The municipality of Zhytomyr and its network of municipalities (Malyn, Radomyshl, Korostyshiv and Brusyliv) were selected by EU4Business.
“In February 2023, 20 Ukrainian municipalities passed the competitive selection process, and now they are eligible for grants for up to UAH 1,800,000 (equivalent of EUR 50,000) for the systematic support of SMEs,” EU4Business stated.
A total of 15 municipalities and 5 networks of municipalities from 13 oblasts of Ukraine were selected. Applications were submitted by 45 municipalities from 20 oblasts of the country.
Next, the winners of the selection will sign agreements on the financing of the projects to start their implementation. Recently, the Regional Office of U-LEAD in the Zhytomyr oblast held an info session on business support for municipal officials.
“Proactive position of municipalities in the process of seeking additional resources is defined by their officials. After all, it is their efforts that are needed to prepare the project, pass the selection and implement it. Radomyshl and Zhytomyr are good examples of the development of, first and foremost, human resources,” said Vasyl Nevmerzhytskyi, Head of the Regional Office of U-LEAD in the Zhytomyr oblast.
The purpose of the grants is to boost the recovery and sustainable development of SME support systems in cities and networks of local municipalities in Ukraine. Grant implementation will continue until 30 November 2023.
The four-municipality partnership project involves a series of activities that will help entrepreneurs find new markets, improve marketing and promote growth.
“We want to build sustainable communication between municipal authorities and the business community. We plan to train municipal officials and entrepreneurs in online sales and working with international online sales services,” said Vitalia Klimentyeva of the Regional Development Agency in the Zhytomyr oblast.
Zhytomyr also plans to help businesses expand to foreign markets. According to Maryna Bilous, Deputy Director of the Economic Development Department of the City Council, consumer goods industry and woodworking businesses have the capacity for growth, but resources needed for this are scarce.
“The project will facilitate the support for enterprises in the process of entering the EU markets. An audit will reveal if the business is ready for growth; then we will develop support steps and help showcase it at exhibitions and fairs abroad,” she added.
Earlier, project managers helped entrepreneurs of the Radomyshl municipality to attract UAH 2,590,000 from the state programme eRobota.