– It is difficult today to precisely determine the effects of the ongoing crisis and how long it will last, but we already want to minimise the negative effects of the epidemic on Lower Silesia’s economy. The support we have prepared will help save thousands of jobs throughout the region – explains Marshal Cezary Przybylski.
Lower Silesia is an established brand on Europe’s economic and business map. We owe our position both to an efficiently implemented development strategy and to excellent conditions for locating businesses. In recent years, the region has risen high in EU rankings, becoming the best in Europe in terms of jobs created, as well as one of the most dynamically developing regions in the entire Community. In order to maintain and strengthen this position in the current situation, the Lower Silesian regional government has prepared the Lower Silesian Economic Package.
What is the Lower Silesian Economic Package?
It is an assistance system dedicated to micro, small and medium-sized businesses in Lower Silesia. The value of the various measures offered under it exceeds one billion zlotys. The Package prepared by the Lower Silesian Regional Government will mitigate the economic and business effects of the epidemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The assistance will be based on two pillars: financial support and coordination and advice. Institutions supporting business that are subordinate to the regional government, as well as economic cooperation agencies, will be involved. The aim is to reach Lower Silesian entrepreneurs with a broad range of protective measures enabling them to preserve jobs and support the operation of their businesses. The programme of measures will be continuously reviewed and adapted to changing economic conditions.
The money comes from EU funds and resources at the disposal of the regional government.
– We preceded the creation of our support package for entrepreneurs with detailed consultations. As a result, we are certain that our assistance is tailored to their needs – adds Marshal Cezary Przybylski.
Who is it for?
The support is aimed at Lower Silesian micro, small and medium-sized businesses affected by the crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic. The support will be based on two main pillars: financial and advisory, and will be introduced in three stages.
The first involves ongoing assistance for companies that have suffered as a result of the epidemic. As part of it, PLN 338 million at the disposal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Labour Office will be available for wage subsidies for people running their own businesses. Estimates indicate that several tens of thousands of businesses and their employees in the region may benefit from this assistance. In addition, PLN 220 million will make it possible to organise working-capital, liquidity and investment loans and guarantees – the Lower Silesian Development Fund will be responsible for these measures.
The next, this time indirect, form of support will be a system simplifying procedures for settling projects already under way. Their value currently exceeds PLN 500 million, and simplified procedures will significantly accelerate their implementation. Another facilitation will be so-called “holidays” from loan repayments and extensions of guarantee terms.
The second and third stages of implementing the package involve mitigating the effects of the crisis and stimulating development. The date of their launch and the amount of funding allocated to them will directly result from analyses conducted on an ongoing basis by the regional government. During this period, entrepreneurs will also be offered repayable and non-repayable support, professional advice for both employers and people seeking work, and dedicated sectoral support for those most in need.
– In this difficult time, we will not leave Lower Silesian entrepreneurs without assistance. We owe the region’s strong economic position to a great extent to them, and we will base the future of our development on them – says the Marshal.
How can you benefit?
Each stage of implementing the Lower Silesian Economic Package will have appropriate tools at its disposal. The most important of these is the website dolnoslaskipakiet.pl. The website has been available since Tuesday and contains complete information about the support, its sources and how to apply for funding. Through the website, via chat and a helpline, it is also possible to contact a team of professional advisers who will provide support to entrepreneurs.