European Union offers more grants for business development in Gagauzia and Taraclia
18 August 2019
- The second round of a EU-funded grants’ contest is starting on March 1 to help create new businesses and develop small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the ATU Gagauzia and Taraclia. Both start-ups and experienced entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply for non-reimbursable financial assistance for up to 18,400 euros per selected project, through the EU funded “Support for Agriculture and Rural Development in ATU Gagauzia and Taraclia” (SARD) Programme implemented by UNDP.
Eligible to apply are entrepreneurs from ATU Gagauzia and Taraclia district, who can provide a contribution of 20% of the requested amount. Besides the financial support, the selected entrepreneurs will benefit from guidance and individual business coaching during the first year. Every beneficiary will be required to create at least three new jobs.
The project proposals for obtaining financing from the European Union may be submitted by May 2, 2017, by filling in an application form available online here. The conditions for participating in the second round of the contest, as well as the project evaluation criteria are available here. Similarly to the first round, the SARD Programme, with the assistance of Pro-Consulting, will hold four information sessions according to the following timetable: Comrat (March 1, 10:00 AM, Event Hall of the Comrat State University, 3rd floor), Ciadir-Lunga (March 2, 10:00AM, Assembly Hall of the district public administration), Vulcanesti (March 3, 10:00AM, Assembly Hall of the district public administration) and Taraclia (March 4, 10:00AM, Culture Hall). More details about the information sessions are available here.
During the first round of the grants’ contest, which ended on November 15, 2016, a total of 76 applications were received, 15 of which were selected for financing. The winning entrepreneurs who benefitted from grants and coaching, will ensure the creation of about 90 new jobs.
Support for local entrepreneurship initiatives is one of the three main components of the SARD Programme. It also includes activities for empowering communities, renovating infrastructure facilities and promoting intercommunity cooperation in ATU Gagauzia and Taraclia district. Financed by the European Union with 6.5 million Euro and implemented by the UNDP, SARD Programme aims to boost collaboration between central and local authorities, as well as among regional organizations from ATU Gagauzia and Taraclia district in order to foster social and economic development in the region, in particular, and in Moldova in general.
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