Briefly
Program description
The grant programme is designed to support entrepreneurial initiatives for starting and developing businesses through a competitive selection of business projects. Funding is provided for the implementation of innovative business ideas in the Zakarpattia region using resources from the regional budget.
The programme objectives include:
- Supporting business projects by providing financial assistance from the regional budget.
- Encouraging investment and innovation among small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Promoting employment through support for citizens' entrepreneurial initiatives.
- Raising awareness of entrepreneurship and available business support instruments within the region.
Main Information
Eligibility
The competition is open to applicants defined by the competition regulations who submit business projects aimed at starting a business, creating new business activities, expanding existing operations, or creating new jobs. Projects must be implemented within Zakarpattia Oblast, and successful applicants are required to complete their projects within six months after receiving the financial support.
Applicants are not eligible if they are not residents of Ukraine, carry out certain activities prohibited by the competition regulations, have outstanding tax liabilities, or have already received state financial support from the regional or local budget during the current year. Participation in the competition is free of charge.
Applications must be submitted electronically through the "Dopomoha Zakarpattia" platform using a qualified electronic signature. Applicants are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of all submitted information.
Financing
The grant programme provides financial support of up to UAH 200,000 for the implementation of a single business project. Grant funds are transferred after a grant agreement is concluded between the competition winner and the relevant department based on the decision of the Competition Commission.
Grant funding may be used exclusively for its intended purpose, including the purchase of equipment, components, materials, raw materials, and other inventory necessary for implementing the business project.
The beneficiary is required to repay the financial support if:
- the funds are used for purposes other than those intended;
- the funds remain unused within six months of receipt;
- the beneficiary terminates business activities within two years after receiving the financial support.
If violations are identified, an inspection report is prepared and the Competition Commission decides on the recovery of the funds. The beneficiary receives written notification specifying the repayment amount, grounds, and a repayment deadline of no more than 30 calendar days from receipt of the notice. Failure to repay the funds on time results in penalties, and the outstanding amount may be recovered through legal proceedings.
Supported Activities
- Starting a business.
- Creating new business activities.
- Expanding existing production or service activities.
- Implementing innovative business ideas.
- Creating new jobs.
Roadmap
The competition is conducted in two stages. The first stage lasts 60 days and includes an information campaign, publication of the competition conditions, required documents, selection criteria, acceptance of applications, and, where necessary, a two- or three-day seminar on preparing business projects. If no applications are submitted during the application period, the Competition Commission may extend the submission deadline by up to 30 days.
The second stage lasts 30 days. During this stage, applications undergo a technical review. Within 20 working days after the application deadline, applicants are informed of any deficiencies and are given 3 working days to correct them. Once the technical review is completed, presentations of the business projects are scheduled, and applicants present their projects to the Competition Commission.
Following the presentations, the Competition Commission evaluates the business projects and determines the winners based on the total scores received. Competition results are published on the official website of the Regional Military Administration and on the Department's Facebook page within five working days after the Commission meeting.
Within five working days after the decision is made, the Department sends each applicant an extract from the Competition Commission's minutes by email. Applicants may appeal the decision by submitting a complaint within three working days after the announcement of the results. The Department informs the applicant of the appeal outcome by email within 30 days from the day following receipt of the complaint.
How to Apply
To apply, applicants must:
- register on the online platform https://dopomoha.carpathia.gov.ua/;
- complete the electronic application form;
- upload all required documents;
- submit the application within the application period;
- if necessary, correct technical deficiencies within 3 working days after notification;
- present the business project to the Competition Commission.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications that meet the eligibility requirements and successfully pass the technical review are submitted to the Competition Commission for evaluation. The Commission approves the selection criteria, assesses the business projects, and determines the successful applicants.
Project evaluation is carried out in accordance with the approved assessment criteria. Following the review, the Competition Commission adopts a formal decision recorded in the meeting minutes. Winners are selected based on the total number of points received, and the results are published on the official website of the Regional Military Administration and on the Department's Facebook page.
During the evaluation process, the Competition Commission may:
- reject an application if the required documents are incomplete or identified deficiencies are not corrected within the established deadline;
- assess business project presentations delivered by the applicant or an author team of up to three persons;
- determine the amount of financial support awarded to each selected project within the established funding limit.
If an applicant disagrees with the Commission's decision, they may submit an appeal to the Department within three working days after the announcement of the results. The appeal is reviewed by the Competition Commission, and the applicant is informed of the outcome by email.
Required Documents
To participate in the competition, the applicant must submit a RAR or ZIP archive signed with a qualified electronic digital signature. The archive must contain the complete set of required application documents.
The mandatory application package includes:
- a signed application;
- a signed participation application (for individuals or sole proprietors);
- a signed project registration form;
- a signed letter of consent;
- a copy of the passport and taxpayer identification number;
- a certificate confirming the absence of tax arrears issued by the State Tax Service;
- an extended extract from the Unified State Register (where applicable for sole proprietors who have made registration changes);
- a document containing the applicant's bank account details;
- where applicable, a certificate confirming IDP or veteran/combatant status.
All required documents should be compiled into a single archive, digitally signed, and submitted in accordance with the competition requirements.
Reporting and Compliance
After receiving financial support, the successful applicant is required to submit a business project implementation report. The report must include information on how the funds were used, a description of the implemented activities, and the achieved performance indicators.
The report must be submitted to the Department no later than six months after the financial support has been transferred. It must be provided in both paper and electronic formats using the prescribed reporting form.
The financial support is provided as a non-repayable state grant, and its receipt requires the beneficiary to submit a report on the use of the allocated budget funds in accordance with the programme requirements.
Legal Terms
Financial support is provided to successful applicants under signed funding agreements and in accordance with the decision of the Competition Commission. The Department is responsible for transferring budget funds, monitoring the implementation of business projects, and preparing reports on the use of public funds.
The use of grant funds, submission of financial and budget reports, and oversight of their proper and efficient use are carried out in accordance with the applicable legislation of Ukraine. Budget transactions are administered under the procedures governing treasury servicing of local budgets.
If a successful applicant fails to sign the funding agreement within the established deadline (by 20 December of the current budget year), they lose the right to receive financial support.
Based on the review of project reports, the Department may:
- terminate the funding agreement;
- require the repayment of budget funds if they were used for purposes other than those approved or remained unused for six months after disbursement.
Any matters not specifically regulated by the competition rules are governed by the applicable legislation of Ukraine.