Regional Government already supported 176 companies for purchase of protective equipment and adaptation of establishments
The Vice-President of the Government announced that the Government has already supported 176 companies applying for the measures to support investments in the acquisition of protective equipment and the adaptation of their facilities in accordance with the guidelines issued by regional authorities, with a view to reopening of their establishments and resuming activity.
“These 176 applications were submitted by small or medium-sized companies for the Support Programme for the Adaptation of Companies to the COVID-19 context and the Subsystem of Incentives for Local Development under Competir+,” highlighted Sérgio Ávila.
Under the Support Programme for the Adaptation of Companies to the COVID-19, Azorean companies can also access additional support. It includes a non-refundable grant amounting to 85% of the costs with the purchase of personal protective and hygiene equipment, ranging between 500 and 5000 Euros, in the case of projects that meet the conditions indicated by the health authority for the resumption of the activity. This measure is specifically directed to micro and small-sized companies and cooperatives.
“This extraordinary measure allows the submission of one application per company, with a maximum eligible investment amount of 15 thousand euros being authorised in the case of an entrepreneur operating several establishments. In this context, eligible expenses include those incurred with the installation of protective barriers, among other physical distancing equipment, the reorganisation and adaptation of workplaces, as well as the acquisition of devices and personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves and protection visors, among others," said the Vice-President.
Under this support measure, with an overall budget of 2.5 million Euros, companies may submit three payment requests, corresponding to 40% of the eligible expenses for each interim request and 20% in the case of the final request. In the case of interim requests, they may be submitted in the form advance invoice payment.
With the aim of further increasing the support for companies, the Regional Government has decided that, through the Subsystem of Incentives for Local Development, companies may submit projects to adapt their facilities in the amount between 5,000 and 40,000 Euros with a maximum completion period of six months. This amount may exceptionally reach 120,000 Euros for companies operating several establishments.
In this context, Sérgio Ávila stated the Regional Government “grants a non-refundable incentive that covers 70% of eligible expenses with layout alteration works, acquisition of machinery and equipment deemed necessary to comply with new working methods, purchase and installation of sanitation and cleaning equipment, among others." According to him, this measure "is aimed at adapting facilities to the standards established for the reopening and resumption of activity.
Besides this specific support line, the Regional Government also promoted the simplification of procedures aimed at providing companies with more direct and immediate access to the incentives granted under the Subsystem of Incentives for Local Development. The latter ensures support to micro and small-sized enterprises investing between 2,500 and 15,000 Euros in projects for the adaptation of their facilities.
"These projects must have an impact on the modernisation and optimisation of the physical structures of companies, the introduction of innovative equipment and on the creation or maintenance of jobs, but without neglecting compliance with the guidelines defined by regional authorities for the reopening of establishments and the resumption of activity," stressed the Vice-President of the Government.
Applications for both measures are open until September 30. They should be submitted through an electronic form available on the website of the Regional Directorate for Support to the Investment and Competitiveness (DRAIC).