Starting April 10, the Government is launching new grant programmes for veterans to start or develop their own business. Grant applications can be submitted through the Diia portal.

The programmes provide for the following grants:

• UAH 250,000 – for a combatant and/or a person with a disability caused by war, provided that one job is created;
• UAH 500,000 – for a family member of a combatant and/or a person with a disability caused by war, provided that two jobs are created;
• UAH 1 million – for a combatant and/or a person with a disability caused by war who has been registered as an individual entrepreneur for at least 3 years, provided that four jobs are created, of which at least 2 are held by veterans or persons with a disability caused by war.

Grants of UAH 500,000 and UAH 1 million will be provided on the condition of co-financing with the recipient: the recipient of the grant must invest 30% of their own funds into their business, while 70% of the funds will be provided by the state in the form of a grant.

The grant funds can be used by entrepreneurs to purchase equipment, raw materials, supplies, rent premises and vehicles necessary for the implementation of their business project, purchase licensed software, pay for marketing and advertising services.

“The Government is working to help our defenders integrate into civilian life after returning from the frontline. Veterans with entrepreneurial skills will be able to receive financial support from the state in the form of a grant to start or expand their own business. By developing their business, they will create thousands of new jobs, including for their fellow veterans. Thus, they will contribute to the economic recovery of the country,” said Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine.

To receive a grant, a veteran or a veteran’s spouse must apply through the Diia portal along with a business plan for their project. After checking the applicant’s credit history, documents and business plan, he or she will be interviewed by specialists from the State Employment Service, which will decide whether to award or refuse the grant.

Grant recipients will also be able to undergo free training on entrepreneurship and obtain consultations at regional employment centres.

As a reminder, the Government’s eRobota project includes grant programmes aimed at stimulating entrepreneurship and job creation. These include microgrants for starting or developing a business, grants for setting up and developing processing enterprises, planting a garden, establishing viticulture and greenhouse facilities. Both existing entrepreneurs and people with no business experience can apply for a grant. Applications for all components of the eRobota programme are currently open. Applications can be submitted via the Diia portal.

For reference

The project was launched on the initiative of Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, the Ministry of Economy, together with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, the State Employment Service, and Oschadbank, with the assistance of the Diia Support Project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine and financially supported by Sweden.