Vinnytsia region veterans to receive UAH 1 million for their own business

A veterinary pharmacy, a Greco-Roman wrestling club, a family greenhouse - these and other businesses will be opened or scaled up in communities by female and male veterans and their families as part of the business idea competition "Support for micro-entrepreneurship of war veterans and their families: from idea to implementation in Vinnytsia region", UNN reports.

Independent experts selected 10 winning projects from among 60 applications. Each initiative will receive up to UAH 100 thousand in grant funds. The total budget of the competition is UAH 1 million. 

"We hope that the own business, for which veterans will receive grant support from the project, will not only make people more active and capable, but also return them to full life in their villages and towns. And in the near future, it will help in the formation of a proactive business community  on the ground," says Mariana Narozhna, project coordinator. 

The MHP Community Foundation, together with its strategic partner MHP, supports the development of veteran businesses in communities through the MHP Next Door program, which provides individualized support and comprehensive assistance to military personnel, veterans, their families and those waiting for loved ones to return from the war. 

"Today it is very important to maintain local budget revenues, which help communities develop. The project provides Vinnytsia region with new sources of revenue and subsequently new jobs. This is important not only for the communities but also for the business owners themselves, because they develop as conscious entrepreneurs who care about the country and therefore work transparently," says Tetiana Volochai, Director of the MHP-Community Charitable Foundation: 

Throughout the duration of the project, the winners will be able to receive mentoring support from experts on how to start, run, or develop their own business. 

The list of winners of the business ideas competition "Support for micro-entrepreneurship of war veterans and their families: from idea to implementation in Vinnytsia region": 

• "Greco-Roman wrestling club "Olympus" (Victoria Koval, Mohyliv-Podilskyi);
• "Family greenhouse, growing vegetables and herbs in a greenhouse for sale" (Vasyl Bobryk, Ladyzhyn);
• "The History of the Brave" coffee shop mafia (Andriy Melnyk, Vinnytsia);
• "Creating a line for making pizza and shawarma in an existing store-cafe" (Volodymyr Bessarab, Trostianets);
• "Greenhouse Flowers (Nelli Bezsinnaya, Krasnopilka village);
• "I will embroider my dream" (Yulia Ozimovska, Mohyliv-Podilskyi);
• "Cargo transportation by grain trailer" (Denys Brovko, Mazurivka village);
• "Expansion of the AVTODOC service station" (Oleksandr Vinnitskyi, Vapnyarka);
• "Coffee House" (Vyacheslav Polyuga, Ladyzhyn).

The project is being implemented by the Social Center of Vinnytsia Region in cooperation with the Ukrainian Veterans Fund of the Ministry of Veterans with the support of the MHP Community Foundation as part of the MHP Next door reintegration program for military and veterans.