For small companies looking for a new impetus in their development, the Technical Cooperation Service (Sercotec) opened applications for the Crece Program. This competitive fund allows investments to be made that strengthen the competitiveness and growth of the country’s SMEs, through a subsidy of $5 million to finance training, infrastructure, assets and working capital that contribute to the consolidation of the company or open new business opportunities.
An analysis of the impact of the program based on the beneficiary companies of 2021 showed that more than half increased their sales one year after accessing the fund, totaling an increase that exceeded $75 billion. In addition, these companies generated 3,793 new jobs as a result of their growth.
Requirements to apply
The program is aimed at two applicant profiles:
- Natural or legal persons, with the start of activities in the first category before the SII and annual net sales of between 200 and 25,000 UF. Exceptionally, companies that are less than one year old, that demonstrate sales of at least 20 UF and that have a minimum of 3 months of start of activities from the opening date of the call may also apply.
- Cooperatives with the initiation of activities in the first category, which register average sales per member of less than 25,000 UF. This is calculated with the amount of the cooperative’s total sales divided by the number of members.
It should be considered that each beneficiary company or cooperative must make a contribution, the amount of which will correspond to 10% of the subsidy and must finance any taxes associated with its project.
The application is made on the www.sercotec.cl site , until Friday, May 3 at 12:00 noon.
In case of doubts, it is possible to contact the Mipe Point of Sercotec Coquimbo, who provide free guidance in the process by phone, at the numbers 232425194 or 232425195; in person at Las Higueras 506, between 09:00 and 13:00 hours or via email at [email protected].
LAUNCHING IN REGIONS: THE QUEST FOR DECENTRALIZATION
The national launch of the call was held in Coyhaique, where the general manager of Sercotec, María José Becerra, emphasized the importance of bringing the coverage of these programs to areas marked by geographical isolation.
In this regard, he explained that “Our commitment to decentralization is demonstrated by concrete facts, which is why we are very proud as an institution to be able to launch for the first time in history the program Grow from a region, from Chilean Patagonia. This program has a public investment of 6,937 million pesos, which will benefit 1,171 micro and small enterprises and cooperatives in Chile“.
As for the regional launch, it was held at the facilities of Domos Dream, a boutique hotel that provides a family-friendly, pet-friendly experience located steps from Avenida del Mar in La Serena. The entrepreneur who founded this business was awarded the subsidy during the previous call and was able to implement a hot water jar that can operate all year round, in addition to other assets and marketing actions.
Pía Castillo Bosselaar, Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism, pointed out that “During this launch we were able to learn about the experience of Renato and Leticia, who, thanks to the Crece Program, were able to expand their services through the acquisition of a tub of hot water. As a region we have a tremendous tourist vocation and breaking seasonality with services that can be delivered throughout the year is of great value for the local offer and in that sense, the support that Sercotec gives to micro and small entrepreneurs is of great impact, as we could see this business“.
Pascal Lagunas Rojas, director of Sercotec Coquimbo, indicated that “We extend an invitation to all micro-entrepreneurs to apply for our Crece Program, with which we seek to enhance their businesses, increase their productivity and implement new lines of products or services. We have a total of 62 places for the Coquimbo Region, so we call on you to download the bases on our website and rely on the departments of productive development of each municipality for the application process“.
Renato Godoy, founder of Domos Dream, expressed that “Within this area, a recurring theme is seasonality and within our project we wanted to address it from a service that could be provided all year round. However, for no entrepreneur there are too many resources, so these funds are a tremendous boost to get the business off the ground, open new lines of services or increase productivity“.
