The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works has earmarked EUR 110 million to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the country’s coal-mining regions until 2029 under the Operational Programme Development of Regions 2021-2027, the Ministry reported on Friday. To this end, the programme’s Managing Authority published for consultation a draft Methodology and Selection Criteria for the operation “Diversification and Adaptation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to Economic Transition – NOVA”.
The procedure is expected to be open for the submission of project proposals by the end of 2026, with the submission of projects continuing for up to three months following its official announcement.
The measure is aimed at assisting SMEs in the regions most affected by the climate transition by supporting investment in economic activities within national and regional priority manufacturing sectors. The goal is to enable the region to cope with the impact on the social sphere, employment, the economy and the environment. Eligible applicants are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises carrying out productive investments within the municipalities in the regions of Kyustendil, Pernik, and Stara Zagora, as well as in the municipalities of Nova Zagora, Yambol, Simeonovgrad, Harmanli, Topolovgrad, Dimitrovgrad, Haskovo, Elhovo, Sliven, and Tundzha.
The proposal is to support measures for production investments aimed at increasing employment and improving competitiveness, activities relating to construction and installation works, the acquisition of fixed and current assets, training, the purchase of machinery, etc. These activities should lead to a diversified local economy, ensuring sustainable development and growth, the creation of new jobs, and conditions for the production of high gross value added.
It is proposed that the minimum aid per project be EUR 50,000, with the maximum aid amount for micro and small enterprises set at up to EUR 300,000, and for medium-sized enterprises at up to EUR 500,000.
The total funding of EUR 110 million is also allocated on a regional basis. The Stara Zagora territory, comprising the municipalities in the Stara Zagora region and the municipalities of Nova Zagora, Yambol, Simeonovgrad, Harmanli, Topolovgrad, Haskovo, Dimitrovgrad, Elhovo, Sliven, and Tundzha, is set to receive just over EUR 86 million. EUR 13.6 million is earmarked for the Pernik territory, and just over EUR 10.2 million for the Kyustendil region.
Interested parties can submit proposals by October 12, 2026, to [email protected].
Government to Back Small, Medium-Sized Enterprises in Coal-Mining Regions with EUR 110 Mln THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-02 16:00:59
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