A new program with a total budget of 17.9 million euros was launched a few days ago, paving the way for 1,000 unemployed individuals who want to take the plunge and start their own business.
The initiative, which is part of the Just Transition Program, targets regions of the country undergoing profound economic transformation. Applications must be submitted electronically via the OPS system on the logon.ops.gr platform by June 30.
The basic grant amounts to €17,900 per beneficiary, a sum that covers the first year of operation for the new business. The goal of the initiative is to provide the necessary start-up capital to those who have a business idea but lack the financial means to take the first step.
Eligibility
The program is for registered unemployed individuals with the Regional Employment Agency (DYPA) who hold a valid digital unemployment card and who must establish a new business and operate it in specific eligible areas. Funding is not provided as a lump sum but is tied to specific stages of the business’s operation, with payments made at milestones and audits conducted to verify activity.
The regions
The program covers Western Macedonia, which is at the center of the post-lignite transition, Megalopolis, as well as the municipalities of Tripoli, Oichalia, and Gortynia. At the same time, it includes small islands in the North and South Aegean and Crete, with populations under 3,100, where business opportunities remain limited and economic activity depends on narrow local markets.
The program places a clear emphasis on young people. Of the 1,000 total beneficiaries, 600 are expected to be between the ages of 18 and 29, while particular emphasis is also placed on women’s participation, as part of efforts to support women’s entrepreneurship.
Expenses
The grant covers a wide range of expenses, such as rent for business premises, utility and water bills, telephone service, accounting and legal support, promotion and advertising, supplies, equipment, insurance premiums, and even staff payroll costs.