Public call for the allocation of funds for financing projects intended to support women's entrepreneurship in 2024

English

Details: 27 November 2024

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The Commission for the Distribution of Funds for Support to Women's Entrepreneurship, based on Articles 2 and 4 of the Decision on the Method and Procedure for the Distribution of Funds for Support to Women's Entrepreneurship in 2024 ("Official Gazette of Montenegro - Municipal Regulations", No. 55/24), hereby announces

PUBLIC CALL

for the allocation of funds for financing projects intended to support women's entrepreneurship in 2024

1. Unemployed women registered with the Employment Agency of Montenegro - Bijelo Polje branch and women entrepreneurs who have been operating for no longer than one year before the publication of this Public Call, who wish to start or improve their own business and reside in Bijelo Polje, are invited to submit their applications to the Public Call.

The funds provided by the budget of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje are allocated for business plans that contribute to the achievement of the goals set in the strategic documents, programs and plans of the Municipality, in particular:

-Encourage the economic development of the municipality (increasing employment and creating new jobs, reducing the shadow economy, developing the local community, conquering new markets and increasing competitiveness, creating a new offer (innovation), etc.);
create conditions and encourage the development of tourism and crafts (tourist valorization of cultural potential, tradition and cultural uniqueness, and local gastronomy, richer and more diverse tourist offer, etc.);
-Contribute to the affirmation and valorization of the cultural potential, tradition, and cultural uniqueness of the municipality, raising the level of culture and preserving cultural heritage;
-Contribute to the preservation and protection of the environment;
-Encourage the development of intellectual services.

2. For all the listed incentives, the Decision on the Budget of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje for 2024, as well as the Decision on the Method and Procedure for Allocating Funds for Supporting Women's Entrepreneurship in 2024, provides a total of 50,000.00 euros.

An unemployed woman or female entrepreneur may apply with a maximum of one business plan.

Female entrepreneurs who have used funds to support women's entrepreneurship under previous public calls and who have used funds under other public calls where the Municipality of Bijelo Polje is the provider of funds are not eligible to participate.

An unemployed woman and female entrepreneur may be supported with funds only if, when registering their activity, they are the holders of the business plan, the founder of the business, the executive director and the contact person.

The maximum amount of funds allocated for a business plan cannot exceed 10% of the total amount provided for in the Municipality's budget for supporting women's entrepreneurship.

An unemployed woman or female entrepreneur may apply for the total amount or for a portion of the funds for the implementation of activities from the business plan and is obliged to indicate this in the application for the Public Call.

An unemployed woman or female entrepreneur undertakes to implement all activities defined in the business plan within a period of 6 months from the date of payment of the allocated funds to the beneficiary's bank account.

3. The Public Call for the allocation of funds for financing projects intended to support women's entrepreneurship in 2024 is open 15 days from the date of its publication on the website and bulletin board of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje.

4. The application for the Public Call is submitted to the Commission for the Allocation of Funds for the Support of Women's Entrepreneurship, on the prescribed form and submitted to the registry office of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje.

5. The Commission shall, within 8 days from the date of publication of the Public Call, determine an "Open Day" to inform applicants about all issues relevant to participation in the Public Call.

6. In a sealed envelope, unemployed women who want to start their own business must submit:

an application for a grant,
a proposed business plan,
a certificate of unemployment from the records of the Employment Service of Montenegro - Bijelo Polje branch,
a statement by the project proposal submitter on legal responsibility,
a statement by the business plan proposer that after signing the contract, they will submit proof of business registration,
a certified copy of their ID card,
three printed and one electronic version of the business plan on CD.

In a sealed envelope, women entrepreneurs who want to improve their own business, attach:

application for a grant,
business plan proposal,
statement of the project proposal submitter on legal responsibility,
certified copy of ID card,
three printed and one electronic version of the business plan on CD,
decision on entry into the court register, i.e. the register of the competent municipal authority,
certificate from the Revenue Administration on duly paid taxes and contributions as of 31 October 2024.

7. The business plan should contain:

Basic data: Brief description of the business plan, Market analysis, products and services, Location,
Estimated investment budget;
Co-financing of the business plan (sources of financing);
Business expense plan;
Projected balance sheet;
Projected income statement;
Conclusion;
Supporting documentation.

8. Eliminatory criteria for the proposed business plan:

lack of formal requirements for submitting a business plan,
that she has used funds to support women's entrepreneurship under previous public calls and funds under other public calls where the Municipality of Bijelo Polje is the provider of funds,
that the woman is not: the business plan holder, the business founder, the executive director and the contact person,
that the business plan does not correspond to the proposed areas from point 1, paragraph 2 of the Public Call,
that it includes activities within the jurisdiction of the Government of Montenegro, such as education, health, social protection and the like,
that financial resources are sought for the purchase and distribution of humanitarian aid,
that it is based exclusively on the one-time production, preparation and printing of books, brochures, newsletters, magazines and the like, unless the publication of such publications is part of
a wider program or more comprehensive and continuous activities,
that it includes activities that are considered illegal or harmful to the environment and dangerous to human health.

9. Eligible costs for the implementation of activities from the business plan include: purchase of machinery, equipment, tools and equipment necessary for carrying out the activity to which the business plan refers.

Eligible costs also include the purchase of used equipment, but only in cases where its purchase value exceeds €1,000. (In the case of planned equipment purchases, submit estimates for budgeted equipment).

- purchase of new ICT (information and communication technology) equipment if it is necessary for carrying out the activity for which you are applying,

- purchase of software if it is necessary for carrying out the activity for which you are applying,

- accounting services for the duration of the project at most, but the monthly cost may not exceed €50.00,

- marketing activities and advertising (creation and maintenance of a website) in a total amount of up to 10% of eligible costs,

- Purchase raw materials and intermediate goods in accordance with business needs. These costs will be eligible if they directly affect the smooth operation of the user. (Purchase of raw materials can be covered only once, as a one-time purchase of supplies at the beginning of the implementation of the business plan),

- costs of preparation, introduction, and certification of the quality management system,

- costs of taxes and contributions for a newly employed person, for entrepreneurs who are improving an existing business, for the maximum period of the project, i.e. 6 months.

10. Ineligible costs for the implementation of activities from the business plan include:

- business entity registration costs,

- fines, fines, and litigation costs,

- customs and import costs and all other similar fees,

- taxes and contributions,

- contributions in kind,

- debts and coverage of losses or debts, and interest received,

- receivables financed for other activities,

- purchase of real estate (land and buildings),

- construction of buildings, adaptation (construction works), and renovation of buildings and premises,

- purchase of telephone and mobile devices,

- sublease of premises,

- rental/leasing of vehicles and equipment,

- studies, research, membership fees,

- travel and per diem expenses of staff, business trips,

- purchase of transport vehicles intended to provide services outside the project applicant's own production and/or purchase of any transport vehicles that will not be used in the activities of the proposed business.

The Commission shall promptly open the submitted sealed envelopes at the first session after the deadline for submitting applications to the Public Call has expired. If it determines that the applicant has not submitted all the documentation prescribed by this Public Call, the Commission shall invite the applicant to remedy the deficiency immediately, and no later than three days from the date of receipt of the invitation. If the applicant fails to remedy the deficiency within the set deadline, the Commission shall reject the application by a conclusion.

11. The beneficiary of financial resources, after the implementation of the activities defined in the business plan for a period of 6 months, is obliged to continue its economic activity for at least 12 months after the completion of the business plan. In the process of monitoring the implementation of the project (18 months), the competent Commission may request the fulfillment of the contracted obligations within an appropriate period, unilaterally terminate the contract and request the return of the paid funds if the beneficiary of the funds to which the funds were allocated does not fulfill the contracted obligations or does not use the approved funds in accordance with the signed contract or annex, in which case the Commission will refer the complete documentation to further jurisdiction.

12. The criteria for scoring business plans for the allocation of funds are:

- The applicant has references and capacities for the successful implementation of the business plan,

- Innovative aspect of the business plan,

- The goals of the plan are measurable, realistic and time-bound,

- Co-financing of the business plan,

- The budget of the business plan is realistically presented and aligned with the activities,

- Sustainability of the business idea.

13. The provisions of the Decision on the criteria, method, and procedure for allocating funds for financing projects of non-governmental organizations (“Official Gazette of Montenegro – Municipal Regulations”, No. 4/17) shall apply to the scoring procedure, determining the ranking list, making and publishing the decision on the allocation of funds, concluding contracts, monitoring the implementation of the business plan and other issues.

14. Information on all issues relevant to the Public Call can be obtained every working day from 12:00 to 14:00 at the Office for Gender Equality in the Sports Hall in Nikoljac. Questions can be asked by phone at Viber number +38269/481-021 and by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. until the end of the Public Call.

Bijelo Polje, 25. 11. 2024.

President of the Commission

Selma Omerović

Public call for the allocation of funds for financing projects intended to support women's entrepreneurship in 2024

A statement from the business plan applicant that after signing the contract, they will submit proof of business registration

A statement from the project proposal applicant - women entrepreneurs in 2024

Application for the Public Call for the allocation of funds for financing business plans intended to support women's entrepreneurship in 2024

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

APPLICATION FORM FOR BUSINESS ZONES

CONTACT:

OFFICE FOR LOCAL ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT

TelL: +382 69 840 551

E-mail: kler@bijelopolje.co.me

REAL ESTATES

ACCOMODATION:

e-CADASRE

e-LICENSE

USFULL LINKS:

Municipality of Bijelo Polje

Municipal Assembly of Bijelo Polje

Secretariat for the regulation of the area of Bijelo Polje Municipality

Government of Montenegro

Investment Development Fund

Tourist organization Bijelo Polje

Tourism organisation of Montenegro

Chamber of economy of Montenegro

UNDP

Union of municipatilies

Secretariat for Development Projects

Montenegrin employers federation

Employment Office of Montenegro

Portal Prekoveze

Portal zaposli.me

Association of montenegrin managers

Association of business women of Montenegro

Association of Entrepreneurs of Montenegro

BIJELO POLJE WEATHER

R E L I E F S:

Municipal Decision on tax reliefs

Article 4

Companies and entrepreneurs referred to in Article 3 shall be introduced and identified the following financial incentives:

exemption from payment of communal fee for construction land,
exemption from payment of the fee for the use of municipal roads,
exemption from payment of surtax on personal income tax,
exemption from paying tax on real estate above 0.1% of the market value of the real estate.

Article 5

The tax exemption from Article 4 item 1 investor (company and entrepreneur) is realized in the amount up to 7,000.00 euros per one newly employed worker, or newly opened workplace, and can be used only if by investing, it increases the number of employees for 5 or more employees.

The incentives referred to in Article 4 item 2, 3 and 4 of this Decision shall also apply to existing companies and entrepreneurs in the area of the Bijelo Polje municipality for the extension of the economic activity referred to in Article 3 of this Decision, and can only be used if the expansion increases the number of employees for 5 or more workers and is valid for a period of 3 (three) years.

Note: The new Regulation on Business Zones was adopted on December 13, 2016 and was published in the Official Journal of Montenegro, No. 77/2016.

The municipality is obliged to until 21.06.2018, in accordance with the Government Regulation, adopt a new Business Zone Decision.

We are also referring to the Decision on the fee for communal equipment for construction land that was published on 29.12.2015. in the "Official Journal of Montenegro - Municipal Regulations" No. 48/15.

Tax reliefs – New Government Regulation on business zones

Article 15

For employed people working in a business zones, the business zone user does not pay:

1) Contributions for compulsory social insurance for salaries (contributions for pension and disability insurance, contribution for health insurance, unemployment insurance contribution) and contributions for the Labor Fund;

2) Personal income tax;

The amount of the relief referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article can not exceed the maximum allowable aid intensity of 60% for medium and 70% for small companies, in accordance with the regulations governing state aid.

The user of the business zone may use the incentives referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, for a maximum period of five years from the date of employment of persons in the business zone.

For the employee referred to in paragraph 1, item 1 of this Article, the user of the business zone calculates, suspends and pays the employee from the earnings of the employee: the contribution for the pension and invasive insurance at the rate of 15,0% contribution to health insurance at a rate of 8.5% and contribution to insurance against unemployment at a rate of 0.5% upon payment of earnings.

The basis for calculating the contribution referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be gross employee earnings.

The user of the business zone pays the calculated surtax of income tax.

In addition to the relief referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the beneficiary of the business zone shall also exercise the right to other incentives in accordance with the law and special regulations governing state aid, although they must not exceed the maximum allowable amount of incentive in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article.

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