Entrepreneurs have over 1.5 billion euros in grants available this summer for investments in several key sectors of the economy – targeted by the opportunity to make new investments, being both start-ups, micro-enterprises, SMEs, but also large enterprises, shows an analysis by REI, a group of companies specialized in attracting European funds and state aid.
Thus, business people who own micro-enterprises operating in Hunedoara, Gorj, Dolj, Prahova, Galați or Mureș counties have over 200 million euros allocated through the Just Transition program this summer.
According to data analyzed by REI, the Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE) is set to open the project submission session on July 1, for a period of 60 days, where micro-enterprises can access up to 300,000 euros to develop their businesses in the six eligible counties.
“We have a huge opportunity ahead for entrepreneurs who own small companies in the six eligible counties – Hunedoara, Gorj, Dolj, Prahova, Galați or Mureș. The call for micro-enterprises, from the Just Transition program, will run from July 1 to September 1 and offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to invest in the development of their businesses, by building new production/service spaces, modernizing or expanding them or equipping them with technological equipment, machinery, work facilities, furniture or IT equipment,” said Roxana Mircea, managing partner, REI Grup.
The objective of the Just Transition Program (PTJ) is to support the six counties towards environmentally sustainable economic diversification, by generating secure jobs and over an extended time horizon.
Entrepreneurs can also invest in intangible assets – such as patents, licenses, trademarks or software related to the proposed investment, event organization activities, professional training courses, consulting, design, research-development-innovation activities, certification expenses or information and advertising activities.
The value of the non-reimbursable financing must fall within the minimum and maximum limits, respectively of at least 50,000 euros, but no more than 300,000 euros per investment project.
Of the total of over 200 million euros allocated under this scheme, the greatest support is offered to Gorj County (over 49 million euros), followed by Hunedoara County – both investments in the region and dedicated to businesses in the Jiu Valley (over 48 million euros) and Dolj County (over 36 million euros). The top allocations are continued by Prahova Counties (around 28 million euros), Galați (over 22 million euros) and Mureș (22 million euros).
The Managing Authority for the Just Transition Programme (MA PTJ) published during April the Applicant Guide for Interventions that support Enterprise Development and Entrepreneurship. Meat processing, dairy products, bread production, pastry, construction/equipment of medical clinics, construction of accommodation and leisure facilities are just a few examples of activities that can be financed.
“To obtain the desired funding, applicants must fall into the micro-enterprise category – with no more than 9 employees at the level of the group of companies they own and annual business or total assets of up to 2 million euros, own a commercial company established no later than December 31, 2023, and the business must have exceeded the threshold of 100,000 euros during the past year because it is important to request double the turnover. At the same time, the applicant must have recorded an operating profit in 2024 and will have to make a commitment to create at least one job that will have to be maintained for the duration of the project – a minimum of 3 years. We recommend that all entrepreneurs carefully analyze this program, it is one of the schemes with generous allocations this summer, and projects must be rigorously prepared, together with a professional consultant, as the documentation is complex”, added Roxana Mircea.
The REI Grup team successfully submitted dozens of projects through the Just Transition Program – 2023-2024 edition, where applicants requested support for financing large-scale investments in the six eligible counties. The financial support of the previous edition ranged from 200,000 euros to 8.4 million euros, and the total allocation exceeded 1 billion euros.
In addition to the Just Transition program, intended for micro-enterprises in Hunedoara, Gorj, Dolj, Prahova, Galați or Mureș counties, entrepreneurs have at their disposal this summer numerous financing programs intended for investments with non-refundable support, including schemes for increasing energy efficiency, investments in innovation and technology, agriculture or the hotel sector and more.