To support entrepreneurs in Kharkiv and Kharkiv region who are constantly under rocket fire, the Government has doubled the amount of grants that businessmen can receive to start or develop their own business – up to UAH 500,000. The relevant decision was made at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on 26 April. Some changes have also been made to the grant programme "Own Business" and its veteran component, aimed at improving the conditions for grant recipients.
"Entrepreneurs in Kharkiv and the region are now working in extremely difficult conditions due to constant rocket attacks by the enemy, which is deliberately destroying the region's energy infrastructure. Due to blackouts, businesses either stand idle or run on generators. To support small entrepreneurs, we offer them the opportunity to take out a grant of up to UAH 500,000 under the "Own Business" programme, which can be spent, in particular, on purchasing equipment necessary for working in such extreme conditions. This decision is one of the practical results of the meeting with business chaired by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which we held as part of the "Made in Ukraine" policy," said Yulia Svyrydenko, First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister of Economy of Ukraine.
According to the Government's decision, entrepreneurs who are registered and carry out or plan to carry out business activities in Kharkiv and Kharkiv region can receive a grant under the "Own Business" programme in the amount of UAH 50,000 to UAH 500,000 to start or develop their business. Grant funds can be used to purchase or lease equipment, purchase raw materials and supplies, rent premises. Both active entrepreneurs and people with no experience of such activities can receive a microgrant.
Other changes to the "Own Business" programme and the grant programme for veterans and their spouses include the following:
- provides for the possibility of receiving a microgrant in the amount of UAH 75,000 in case of an individual's obligation to register as an individual entrepreneur;
- the opportunity to receive a grant for veterans was provided to persons from volunteer formations;
- the State Employment Centre makes a decision on granting a microgrant/grant based on the recipient's confirmation of the absence of data, in case of receiving information from automated systems on the existence of court cases, enforcement proceedings, seizure/confiscation of assets, tax debt;
- the recipient is now able to confirm the payment of taxes and unified social contribution (in particular, for persons employed under the terms of microgrants/grants) by submitting relevant information to the State Employment Centre if such information is not available as a result of the information exchange between the State Employment Service, the Pension Fund of Ukraine and the State Tax Service;
- improved conditions for the use of microgrant/grant funds by the recipient by defining cases that will not be considered misuse of funds;
- the recipient is given the opportunity to change the purpose of the microgrant/grant by submitting a relevant application to the regional employment centre or through the recipient's account on the "Diia" portal.