SPEED – Towards an Efficient and Developed Economy

Civitas Foundation for Civil Society – Odorheiu Secuiesc Office

The project targets people interested to start a non-agricultural enterprise in one of the cities in the counties of Alba, Brașov, Covasna, Harghita, Mureș, and Sibiu. The overall objective of the project is to support the increase in living standards of the population in the Center Development Region in Romania by developing its citizens’ entrepreneurial capacity, supporting the establishment of new non-agricultural enterprises in the urban area, respectively by promoting the creation of new, sustainable and quality jobs.

In the first phase of the project, we have organized an entrepreneurial training course. Out of the total number of participants, 60% of them were unemployed or inactive, and 40% were self-employed. The course consisted of the following modules: Starting your business, Business Accounting, Business Communication, Marketing, Business Plan Development, ICT. Based on the results of the graduation exam, the top 10 players in each group were rewarded with cash prizes. At the graduation exam, the students presented their own business plans. They were subsequently enrolled in an evaluation process, and the first 36 best business plans would benefit from a grant of up to 177,740 lei to set up new businesses.

The owners will practice 2-month internships at establishments whose object of activity is identical to the one of their business. Entrepreneurs will benefit from support, consultancy, mentoring services and will be monitored by the experts provided within the project until the end of implementation (December 2020). Established businesses will be organized into a collaborative and cooperative network where members will benefit from expert and peer-to-peer support and experience exchange. Within this network, they can implement common marketing strategies, but can also set up business partnerships.