– As I announced several weeks ago, we are systematically providing further financial support to Lower Silesian entrepreneurs. The coronavirus epidemic has severely affected the tourism industry. The more than PLN 60 million we are making available now will certainly help save many companies and jobs – says Marshal Cezary Przybylski.
The competition is intended for entrepreneurs engaged in sports, recreational and creative activities related to culture and entertainment, as well as operating museums, libraries or archives. Travel agents, all kinds of tour operators, intermediaries, companies providing reservation, accommodation and catering services, and other enterprises whose work is connected with the tourism industry may also apply for support.
– Tourism is one of many sectors of the economy that has been directly affected by the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. According to data from Statistics Poland, some entrepreneurs report a decline in the turnover of their businesses of as much as 90% – admits Jerzy Michalak, director of the Lower Silesian Intermediate Body.
A total of more than PLN 60 million has been allocated to support beneficiaries under the competition. The project is being implemented with funds from the Regional Operational Programme of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship for 2014–2020. The amount of funding for individual companies will be calculated on the basis of the number of employees in the enterprise, using a unit rate for a period of three months. The methodology for the unit rate, which makes the amount of support dependent on the size of the workforce, was developed at the national level by the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy in cooperation, among others, with the Lewiatan Confederation.
The minimum amount of funding for a micro-enterprise: PLN 23,500 (with one employee, one full-time position)
The maximum amount of funding: PLN 164,700 (with 49 full-time positions)
An applicant may apply for support if they meet the following conditions:
- They are a micro- or small entrepreneur, including a self-employed person. One of the criteria for defining a small enterprise is employing between 1 and 49 people; the number of employees is counted as of 31 May of this year.
- They commenced business activity no later than 1 December 2019.
- They have their registered office, branch or place of business in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship and conduct business in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.
- They are experiencing financial difficulties resulting from the COVID-19 epidemic, meaning that they recorded a decline of at least 50% in turnover (sales revenue) during one selected month in 2020, from 1 March 2020 to 31 May 2020, compared with the average monthly turnover (sales revenue) in 2019.
- They are not an entity excluded from applying for support.
- As of 31 December 2019, they were not in arrears with tax payments or social insurance contributions.
Entrepreneurs will be able to apply for support via the EFRR Funding Application Generator from 8:00 a.m. on 23 June 2020 until 3:00 p.m. on 26 June 2020, or until 150% of the allocation planned for the call is exceeded. At that point, the Generator will be blocked and no further applications will be accepted.
The aim of the project is to help maintain the financial liquidity of Lower Silesian enterprises. The grant will be non-repayable provided that the company continues operating for at least three calendar months, counting from the month following the month in which the application for support was submitted. Within 30 days of the end of the three-month period, the entrepreneur will be required to submit a special reporting application.
