The Charitable Foundation Caritas Lviv of the UGCC has begun recruiting entrepreneurs as part of the ReFarm business program, which is part of the three-year REMARKET project.
The program aims to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) operating in the fields of beekeeping and baking, seeking to restore, strengthen, or scale up their business amidst economic challenges. Successful participants will be eligible to receive a business grant of up to 237,000 UAH (before taxes), professional training, and mentoring support.
The applicant must be registered in the Lviv region and have been in operation for at least 6 months to demonstrate business experience and market presence. Expenses eligible for grant funding include costs for equipment and machinery, marketing and advertising, certification, licensing, repair works, and/or rent (up to 25% of the grant amount).
Preference will be given to MSMEs that demonstrate leadership/involvement of vulnerable groups such as women, youth, the elderly, veterans, people with disabilities, and/or ethnic minorities. The applicant must also be willing and able to co-finance the expenses related to the implementation of the business plan.
“The significant potential of beekeeping and baking in the region requires support to overcome challenges caused by the war and other factors. The ReFarm program is an additional tool for restoring and expanding entrepreneurial opportunities; it provides not only financial support in the form of grants but also comprehensive training, mentoring support, and assistance in market entry,” emphasized Lyudmila Honcharenko, Director of the Department of Agro-Industrial Development of the Lviv Regional State Administration.
The ReFarm support program is also active in the Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Khmelnytskyi, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions.