Launch of the local authority's one-stop shop for assistance
This is good news for associations, businesses and project leaders in the region, for whom formalities will now be much simpler. On Wednesday evening, Martine Beldor, regional councillor in charge of community life, and Natacha Pétrine, director general of services for Saint-Martin, presented this tool to a large audience at the CCISM.
To avoid any misunderstanding, it should be noted that this is not a counter in the strict sense of the word, but rather an online portal that will now serve as the single point of entry for all assistance programmes initiated by the Saint Martin local authority. The origins of this project date back to 2022, and the service is already operational, although some functions are still under development and will not be available for some time.
For many years, it has been clear that payments for all categories of assistance have been subject to sometimes significant delays, preventing applicants and beneficiaries from functioning properly due to a lack of financial resources. Gone are the days of administrative red tape and voluminous paper files that were never complete, as this new platform is now 100% computerised, with simplification, speed and efficiency as its watchwords, not to mention traceability.
A real improvement in services
Benoît Valance, a member of the team responsible for designing the system, explained in detail how to familiarise oneself with the tool by opening a personalised account, which will allow each applicant to track the progress of their application in real time and, if necessary, add any information required to obtain a grant much more quickly than in the past. The faster processing of invoices, the visibility and the responsiveness of this portal, which can be consulted 24 hours a day, are undeniable advantages that will change the life of associations, as well as that of entrepreneurs on the island, not to mention project leaders, who will no longer have to navigate an administrative obstacle course fraught with various pitfalls. Although not all available grants are online yet, they will be added to the site gradually. It is important to note that the 2026 grant campaign for associations is now open, so now is the time to complete the necessary formalities for those who wish to take advantage of it, bearing in mind that the deadline for submitting applications is midnight on 8 March. Accessing the service couldn't be easier: simply log on to the local authority's website: https://www.com-saint-martin.fr > administrative procedures > association > grant application. It is important to note that all applications are automatically saved even if they are not complete, which allows applicants to add the information they have available as and when they receive it, making the process even easier.
