Nonagricultural businesses in Danube Delta

September 2nd, 2016

Consultative guidelines have been published for sub-measures 6.2 and 6.4 within National Rural Development Programme, sub-measures that focus on investments in non-agricultural businesses in rural areas from Danube Delta.

Eligible activities:

  • Services: medical services, veterinary services, car/boat repair shops, IT business, consultancy, accountancy, legal etc.;
  • Production: pellet manufacturing, textile factory, electrical components factory, metal constructions, furniture factory, pharmaceuticals etc.;
  • Tourism: touristic and agro-touristic accommodation services, caravan parks, campings, holiday camps, leisure activities services, tourist-guide services etc.;
  • Craft: handicraft, pottery, reeds and rushes processing for traditional purpose, manual processing of iron, wool, wood etc.

Financing:

  • For 6.2 financing line – Up to 70.000 euro (100 % non-refundable) and the payment is granted in two installments: 70% in advance, at the beginning of the project and 30% at project completion and achievement of indicators;

OR

  • For 6.4 financing line – Up to 200.000 euro (up to 90% non-refundable financing) for those who want a more complex investment, with regular payments (maximum 5 payments) during the project implementation period;

Eligible expenditure:

  • Building or modernization of the working space;
  • Purchase of equipment, machinery or other equipment necessary for the business;
  • Other expenses required by the project.

Eligible applicants:

  • Microenterprises, small businesses or any individual that can found a company in the rural area from Danube Delta territory until the submission deadline of the project;

Implementation area:

  • Constanta county, villages: Corbu, Istria, Mihai Viteazu, Sacele;
  • Tulcea county, villages: Baia, Bestepe, C.A. Rosetti, Ceamurlia de Jos, Ceatalchioi, Chilia Veche, Crisan, Frecatei, Greci, Grindu, I.C. Bratianu, Jijila, Jurilovca, Luncavita, Mahmudia, Maliuc, Mihail Kogalniceanu, Mihai Bravu, Murighiol, Niculitel, Nufaru, Pardina, Sarichioi, Slava Cercheza, Sfantu Gheorghe, Smardan, Somova, Valea Nucarilor, Vacareni;

The guidelines are under public consultation until September 10th, 2016.

For more information access: www.afir.ro

Launch of “Romania Start-up Plus”!

September 1st, 2016

The final form of the POCU 2014-2020 Applicant Guidelines – Specific Conditions: “Romania Start-up Plus” (SO 3.7) have been launched. The projects can be submitted between the publishing date of the Ministry approval order and 30th of October 2016.

Projects aim at supporting the establishment of enterprises with non-agricultural profile in urban areas.

Maximum project value: 5.000.000 euro.
Implementation period: maximum 36 months

Eligible applicants/partners:

  • Public and private training providers;
  • Chambers of commerce and industry;
  • NGOs;
  • Trade unions;
  • Members of Sectoral Committees and legal Sectoral Committees;
  • Authorities of local public administration;
  • Professional Associations;
  • Universities;
  • Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business Environment and subordinated/ coordinated: institutions / agencies / organizations;

Target group:

  • Individuals who intend to establish a business (eg. unemployed / inactive / people who have a job and intend to set up a business in order to create new jobs).

Activities:

  • Entrepreneurship training programs, authorized by ANC;
  • Internships;
  • A micro-grant of maximum 40.000 euro/business plan, in 2 instalments (1st instalment – 30.000 euro, 2nd instalment – the difference);
  • A monitoring program of the business functioning and development;

More information about the Applicant Guideline and annexes are presented here.

Conference „Creativity in Business” – 12 October 2016

August 30th, 2016

PR – Concord Communications, in partnership with the Romanian Entrepreneurship Association will organize on 12 October 2016, between 9:00 – 16:00, at Ramada Plaza Hotel Bucharest, the second edition of the Conference “Creativity in Business”.

At the event will participate, as a speaker, also our colleague Irina Zugravu – Senior Consultant & Managing Partner VAPRO Romania.

Under the Conference, entrepreneurs and top employers, founders of innovative businesses and entrepreneurship and communication consultants will present success stories and will provide answers to key questions:

  • How creative we should be to differentiate ourselves in business, on a market increasingly competitive?
  • How to have more creative employees to assist at the business development?
  • Which are the new trends and strategies for successful entrepreneurs in 2016?
  • What new ideas for financing business exists?
  • There is room to invent something?
  • How can we open new business or how we can develop the existing ones?

The event will end with a Master Class course which will familiarize the participants with the advantages of learning new creativity and innovation techniques.

The participants who sign up for the conference until September 30, 2016 will receive for free, from BMI Publishing, the book “Understanding Michael Porter: The Essential Guide to Competition and Strategy” written by Joan Magretta.

The event addresses to:

  • Managers;
  • Employees;
  • Current and future entrepreneurs;

For further details about the conference agenda, confirmed speakers and subscription, please access the link: https://concordcom.ro/evenimente/creativitatea-in-business-2/

Funds for processing of agricultural and fruit products!

August 11th, 2016

In the period 16 August – 30 December 2016, applicants for European grant have over 45,67 million euro at their disposal for projects which fall within under GBER and the minimis Schemes, related to sub-measure 4.2 (Processing of agricultural products) and sub-measure 4.2a(Processing of fruit products).

Eligible beneficiaries:

  • Micro enterprises;
  • Small and medium enterprises;
  • Other enterprises: producer groups, cooperatives.

Objectives:

  • Introduction of new technologies and procedures for obtaining either new non-agricultural products or once of a superior quality;
  • Increasing the quality of obtained products, food safety and obtaining new competitive products with an economic impact on further processing in enterprises, complained to veterinary and food safety standards;
  • Increasing the number of workplaces.

Project value:

Up to 2.500.000 euro, with a non-reimbursable funding percentage that can reach a maximum of:

  • 50% for West Region (Timis, Arad, Caras-Severin, Hunedoara) and Ilfov county;
  • 35% for Bucharest;
  • 50% for other regions (all other counties);

The eligible areas of investment that can be financed through the state aid scheme GBERSm. 4.2: milling products, bakery products, cocoa, chocolate, spices, beer etc.

The eligible areas of investment that can be financed through the state aid scheme GBERSm. 4.2a: candied fruit, alcoholic fruit beverages, confectionery (sweets), etc.

Non-reimbursable financing for microentreprises and SMEs!

August 3rd, 2016

Projects within the call for investments for the development of micro-enterprises from urban areas (2.1 A) through the Regional Operational Programme (ROP) can be submitted!

The call have been launched on 27.07.2016 and will remain opened until 27.01.2017.

If you are the administrator of a microenterprise (with up to 9 employees and up to 2 million euro turnover/total assets), with at least 1 year of activity and you wish to invest in:

  • Construction, extension, modernization of the production/ services areas;
  • Acquisition of tangible and intangible assets, including e-commerce tools.

this call offers you the possibility to receive a non-reimbursable financing up to 90% from the eligible costs of the project.

Eligible value of the project: minimum 25.000 euro;

Grant: maximum 200.000 euro;

Investments in the Bucharest – Ilfov and ITI Danube Delta development regions are NOT eligible.

For more information click here.

Also, for more complex projects developed by SMEs (with up to 250 employees and up to 50 million euro turnover/total assets), including microenterprises, a financing between 200.000 euro si 1.000.000 euro can be obtained. The launch is estimated in September-October 2016.

For more information click here.

VAPRO – Summary table of non-reimbursable funds!

July 29th, 2016

VAPRO Romania has developed a brief summary of the most interesting non-reimbursable financing possibilities for the private field (small and medium enterprises, large enterprises) from rural and urban areas, and also for NGOs, public institutions or other organizations from the targeted field.

For each type of financing opportunity you can identify:

  • estimated / official launch date;
  • financial allocation of the call for proposals;
  • grant amount;
  • types of eligible applicants;
  • eligible expenditures;

To download the document click here!

Also, starting with 28th of July 2016, existing companies or start-ups from rural areas can submit projects for funding non-agricultural activities. The grant awarded can reach up to 70.000 euro (100 % non-refundable) for PNDR 6.2 sub-measure and up to 90% of the project cost (but not less than 200.000 euro) for PNDR 6.4 sub-measure.

POCU – new calls for social economy and education in disadvantaged schools!

July 27th, 2016

The Ministry of European Funds launched under public consultation two new Guidelines: “Solidarity” and “Motivated teachers in disadvantaged schools” financed through POCU 2014-2020.
 
“SOLIDARITY. Support for consolidation of social economy” – Specific Objective 4.16
 
Eligible activities:

  • Training and abilities development, counselling, consultancy of persons involved in the enterprise; Promotion of the social brand; Jobs accessibility;
  • Know-how transfer with other communities and with relevant actors; Partnership development;

Target group: persons from social enterprises (staff; members (according to the organization and functioning papers); volunteers (with contract));

Project value: minimum 50.000 euro – maximum 100.000 euro as minimis aid.

Non-reimbursable financing: up to 100%.

Eligible applicants are social economy structures organized as: I-st degree cooperative, cooperative credit institution, association/foundation, credit union, federation or union,  any other category of legal person certified as a social enterprise.

“Motivated teachers in disadvantaged schools” – Specific Objectives 6.2, 6.3, 6.6
 
Eligible activities:

  • Attracting and maintaining the quality of human resources in the target schools;
  • Creating a critical mass of motivated professionals in the target schools;
  • Ensuring the sustainability of quality in education;

Target group:

  • Teachers, support staff, school managers and social partners that work in schools with children who are in educational risk;

Project value:

  • Small projects: maximum 450.000 euro (includes minimum 3 schools);
  • Large projects: maximum 1.500.000 euro (includes minimum 10 schools);

Non-reimbursable financing:

  • 100% for NGOs; 95% for private beneficiaries; 98%/85% for public institutions;

Eligible applicants:

  • NGOs;
  • Public or private educational institutions; Local public authorities with responsibilities in the field;
  • Guidance, counselling, scholar mediation services providers;
  • Ministry of Education and subordinated institutions; Social partners from pre-university education system;
  • National Administration of Penitentiaries and subordinated institutions (SO 6.3 and 6.6);

More information about the two guidelines here.

Recommendations for MFE regarding the Applicant Guideline “Romania Start-up Plus”

July 26th, 2016

Vapro Romania together with Structural Consulting™ Group – www.fonduri-structurale.ro continues the series of recommendations for the Ministry of European Funds and MA POCU.

The document submitted yesterday, 25th July 2016, comprise recommendations to improve the Applicant Guideline Specific Conditions “Romania Start up Plus” on Human Capital Operational Programme.

The main aspects on which VAPRO, Structural Consulting Group and other experts have proposed modifications are:

  • The possibility to include companies and universities in the list of eligible applicants;
  • The modification of percentages of the two tranches of the micro-grant from 60% – 40 % to 80% – 20%,  to ensure real possibilities of success for the established businesses;
  • The reduction of the “performance threshold” to be met within 12 months of existence, from 50% of the first tranche to a more realistic value of 20%;
  • To eliminate the minimum required duration of the entrepreneurial skills training authorised by ANC;
  • To eliminate the maximum duration required for the 3 phases of the project implementation framework;

For more information about the submitted recommendations download the document from here.

The Guideline for SMEs have been published – the launch is following!

July 26th, 2016

The consultative version of the Applicant Guideline for investments implemented by SMEs within the Regional Operational Program (POR) has been published for public debate until 24.08.2016.

 Eligible beneficiaries:

  • non-agricultural SMEs from urban areas (also micro-enterprises) and
  • non-agricultural medium enterprises from rural areas.

It is required for a beneficiary to have at least 3 years of activity and to register operational profit for the year prior to project submission.

Eligible regions: North-East, South-East, South Muntenia, South-Vest Oltenia, North-West, Centre;

Eligible investments:

  1. Construction, modernization, extension of the production/services areas;
  2. Acquisition of tangible (equipment, tools etc), intangible assets (patents, licenses etc), including e-commerce tools.
  3. Implementation of quality environmental or health management systems;
  4. Participation at international fairs and exhibitions, trade missions etc.

Eligible non-reimbursable value: minimum 200.000 euro and maximum 1.000.000 euro.

Non- reimbursable financing rate:

For investments mentioned at points 1 and 2:

  • Small enterprises: 60% (from North-East, South-East, South Muntenia, South-West Oltenia, North-West, Center regions) and 45% (from West region);
  • Small and micro enterprises: 70% (from North-East, South-East, South Muntenia, South-West Oltenia, North-West, Center regions) and 55% (from West region);

For investments mentioned at points 3 and 4: up to 90%;

All the conditions that beneficiaries must meet to access this funding can be found here.

Final guidelines for non-agricultural business in rural areas (PNDR)

July 21st, 2016

Final guidelines have been published for sub-measures 6.2 and 6.4 within National Rural Development Programme, sub-measures that focus on investments in non-agricultural business in rural areas.

The submission of applications for funding will begin in approximately 7 days from the date the final guidelines have been published.

What activities can be performed?

  • Services: medical services, car repair shops, IT business, consultancy, accountancy, veterinarian and others;
  • Production: pellet manufacturing, electrical components factory, metal constructions, furniture factory, pharmaceuticals, crafts etc.;
  • Tourism: agro – pensions and leisure activities;
  • Other activities – contact us to confirm that your idea can be financed;

Which is the maximum grant for a project?

  • For 6.2 financing line – Up to 70.000 euro (100% non-refundable) and the payment is granted in two installments: 70% in advance, at the beginning of the project and 30% at project completion and achievement of indicators;

OR

  • For 6.4 financing line – Up to 200.000 euro (up to 90% non-refundable financing) for those who want a more complex investment, with regular payments (maximum 5 payments) during the project implementation period;

What can be financed?

  • Building or modernization of the working space;
  • Purchase of equipment, machinery or other equipment necessary for the business;
  • Other expenses required by the project.

Who can access the funding?

  • Micro-enterprises, small businesses or any individual that can found a company in the rural area until the submission deadline of the project;

The evaluation and approval: these grants are awarded to the highest scoring projects until the available funds are contracted! The submission session will be opened for at least 5 days, or until the public value of the applications submitted reach the ceiling of 200% of the allocation for this annual session.

For more information the guidelines can be downloaded here.

Final guidelines for non-agricultural business in rural areas (PNDR)