Nine communities in the Mykolaiv region will be taught how to secure funding for business recovery

Communities in the Mykolaiv region will be taught how to secure funding to revive their businesses. Photo: NikVesti

The Business Support Hub project has been launched in Mykolaiv to help entrepreneurs from nine communities across the region secure funding for business development. As part of the initiative, entrepreneurs will be able to receive advice, assistance with preparing grant applications and take part in practical training.

This was reported by a correspondent for NikVesti.

The project is being implemented by the Mykolaiv region Regional Development Agency in collaboration with local communities. The communities of Bashtanka, Snihurivka, Shyroke, Zavodske, Mykolaiv, Horokhivka, Shevchenkove and Halytsynove have joined the initiative.

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Entrepreneurs will be assisted in identifying suitable grant programmes, preparing applications and finding other funding opportunities. The project also plans to organise training sessions, consultations and meetings to foster cooperation between local authorities and the business community.

The aim of the initiative is to strengthen the economic resilience of communities by supporting local entrepreneurs and to help local authorities better understand the needs of businesses.

«We want entrepreneurs in these communities to have a better chance of securing funding. It is important to support local businesses and establish a dialogue between entrepreneurs and the authorities. Thanks to the project, communities will be able to better understand the needs of businesses and respond to them accordingly,» said Iryna, a representative of the Mykolaiv region’s Regional Development Agency.

Communities in the Mykolaiv region will be trained to secure funding for business recovery. Photo: NikVesti

According to her, the project involves two areas of work. The first is infrastructure support for businesses in four communities. There, they plan to carry out audits, set up or revive business councils, and develop municipal business support programmes. Meetings, training sessions and working sessions are also planned. The second area will focus on providing direct assistance to entrepreneurs in finding funding and preparing applications.

The Business Support Hub will operate from the premises of the Mykolaiv region’s Regional Development Agency. There, they plan to compile up-to-date information on international, national and regional grants, loans, compensation schemes and other support programmes for entrepreneurs. Separately, they will provide individual and group consultations, help entrepreneurs find suitable programmes and prepare grant applications. Training sessions and practical workshops will also be organised for entrepreneurs, and information on new opportunities will be disseminated amongst local communities.

«We want to bring together all business opportunities in one place. These may include grants, funding, loans, compensation schemes and other programmes. Some of these are not always widely available, so we will be sharing this information with entrepreneurs. We will also be engaging experts and partners who can provide funding or are interested in collaborating,» explained a representative of the agency.

The training will focus on practical knowledge that entrepreneurs can apply in their work. Furthermore, as part of the project, there are plans to organise meetings between government officials and business representatives to jointly seek solutions to local economic challenges.

It is expected that the implementation of the project will help entrepreneurs attract additional funding, develop their businesses and create jobs. This should also help to increase revenue for local budgets and strengthen the region’s economy.

Yevhen Pavkov, Acting Director of the Mykolaiv region’s Regional Development Agency, emphasised the importance of supporting entrepreneurs during a full-scale war. He noted that it is also important to facilitate the official registration of businesses, as entrepreneurs’ activities impact revenue for budgets at various levels.

«This project is very important. I believe we need to gradually shift away from a raw materials-based economy towards manufacturing. We must support businesses amidst a full-scale war and increase the added value of our products,» he noted.

As Viktor Sikalenko explained, work on the project has already begun. In particular, situational and desk audits have been carried out, and in-depth interviews are planned with community representatives and the departments responsible for supporting entrepreneurship.

Communities in the Mykolaiv region will be trained to secure funding for business recovery. Photo: NikVesti

Based on the research findings, a framework is to be prepared for the development of targeted programmes to support small and medium-sized enterprises. Separately, there are plans to speak with entrepreneurs who have already secured grant funding to ascertain what support mechanisms local businesses require.

«We understand that all the communities taking part in the project are located near the front line and have fewer opportunities than communities in more westerly regions. We will therefore be discussing what support mechanisms are available, what local authorities can do, and what assistance businesses require,» said Viktor Sikalenko.

He added that, as part of the project, they also plan to facilitate the establishment of business councils in communities where none currently exist. In addition, focus groups, training sessions and the exchange of experiences between communities are planned.

One of the project’s grant officers, Anna Ofonina, explained that she will be helping entrepreneurs and communities to establish cooperation and make the most of grant opportunities. According to her, her experience working in local government helps her to understand the difficulties communities face when gathering information about local businesses.

She noted that, in order to provide effective support to entrepreneurs, it is important to establish communication between businesses and local authorities so that communities can better understand the needs of entrepreneurs and identify possible areas of support.

«Our job is to help the businesses operating in your communities. I previously worked in the economic department of a local authority, so I understand the challenges it faces. In particular, it can be difficult to gather information from local businesses, as entrepreneurs are not always open to dialogue. That is why it is important to understand how communities can encourage businesses to cooperate and provide the necessary information,» said Anna Ofonina.

Communities in the Mykolaiv region will be trained to secure funding for business recovery. Photo: NikVesti

During the meeting, community representatives also spoke about the challenges facing local businesses. In particular, in agricultural communities, large farms are already securing grants and expanding production, whilst smaller enterprises often lack information and support. A separate challenge remains the restoration of shops and other businesses that have suffered damage as a result of hostilities. Community representatives hope that access to support programmes will help some entrepreneurs resume operations.

Anton Tabunshchyk, Chair of the Mykolaiv Regional Council, emphasised that support for local businesses is vital for the region’s economic resilience and its attractiveness to future investment. He believes that cooperation between local authorities and entrepreneurs, and the creation of a favourable business environment, play a key role in this.

«We must not waste time and should make the most of the opportunities available. Once the war is over, competition for the attention of international partners, investment and relocated businesses will intensify. That is why we need to start creating the right conditions now, so that businesses and investors want to stay in our region and grow here,» he noted.

At the end of the meeting, community representatives and the project organisers signed memoranda of cooperation. This is intended to formalise the agreements and serve as a basis for further work within the Business Support Hub.

Communities in the Mykolaiv region will be trained to attract funding for business recovery. Photo: NikVesti

Communities in the Mykolaiv region will be trained to secure funding for business recovery. Photo: NikVesti

Communities in the Mykolaiv region will be trained to secure funding for business recovery. Photo: NikVesti

Communities in the Mykolaiv region will be taught how to secure funding for business recovery. Photo: NikVesti

Communities in the Mykolaiv region will be taught how to secure funding for business recovery. Photo: NikVesti

Communities in the Mykolaiv region will be taught how to secure funding for business recovery. Photo: NikVesti

As a reminder, the Resilience Centre in Mykolaiv provides free psychological, legal and social support, as well as speech therapy, to those affected by the war.

There is also a mobile team operating there, which travels to communities in the Bashtanka, Mykolaiv and Voznesensk districts of Mykolaiv region. The mobile team provides the same range of services as the centre. Consultations are held at community centres, schools and other facilities within the communities.