The government has approved grants and soft loans for small and medium-sized businesses to help entrepreneurs weather the energy emergency. As Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko reported on Telegram, the support package is aimed at ensuring energy independence for enterprises.
“Small and medium-sized businesses continue to operate despite emergency shutdowns due to Russian shelling, and are therefore incurring additional costs. To help get through this difficult period, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a support package at a meeting, Svyrydenko said.
Individual entrepreneurs of groups 2–3 working in socially important areas – catering establishments, pharmacies, cafes, grocery stores, bakeries and other essential establishments – will receive one-time payments of UAH 7,500 to UAH 15,000. The amount of assistance depends on the number of employees, if there is at least one employee.
“Submission of an application – through the Diya portal. Then the application is verified by partner banks, and the State Employment Service transfers the funds. The funds can be spent on the purchase and repair of power equipment, fuel for generators and payment for electricity services, Svyrydenko explained.
In addition to grants, entrepreneurs can take out targeted 0% loans for generators and batteries. The 5–7–9% program allows you to attract up to 10 million hryvnias for a period of up to 3 years, the difference in interest is compensated by the state through the Entrepreneurship Development Fund. According to the Prime Minister, loans are provided by almost 50 partner banks.
“These solutions should help to continue working, perform the functions of points of invincibility and preserve jobs during the most difficult energy conditions”, Svyrydenko added.
The Ministry of Economy will soon publish the details and start date of the programs. To implement the grants, the government adopted amendments to the resolution of June 21, 2022 on “Some issues of providing business grants”.
