The Support Programme for the Adaptation of the Activity of SMEs (Small, Micro and Medium Sized Businesses) in the Autonomous Region of Madeira in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic, was presented by the Regional Secretary for Economy, Rui Barreto this week.
ADAPTAR-RAM is an Incentive Programme for micro, small and medium-sized companies, with a global allocation of 2.5 million euros.
This incentive system aims to support SME projects in adapting their establishments in the face of new conditions of physical distance and hygiene in the context of the pandemic, ensuring compliance with the established rules and recommendations of the competent authorities. According to Rui Barreto, with the lack of tourism and the gradual reopening of the establishments, many entrepreneurs have faced additional costs to ensure they meet the new health and safety standards, and this program “is to help entrepreneurs meet these expenses and allow them return to the new Covid normality.”
So far, commercial activities, whether commerce, shopping centres or restaurants, are complying with the rules and I believe that all conditions are met so that people can move around, buy and also have social life with security.
The application criteria is…..
The minimum eligible expenditure to be submitted by the applicant companies is 500 euros and the maximum is 5,000 euros, per establishment, with a maximum limit of 10,000 per project.
The financing converts 80% into a lost fund and the Government will make an initial advance in the amount of 50% of the approved incentive, without the beneficiary having to submit the respective advance request via the Balcão do Portugal 2020 platform.
Expenditure on the purchase of personal protective equipment will be eligible; hygiene equipment; contracting disinfection services; purchase of automatic payment devices; costs associated with the domiciliation of applications; costs with the reorganisation and adaptation of workplaces and layout of spaces; control and physical distance devices; costs with the acquisition and placement of information and guidance; consultancy services and expenses with the intervention of certified accountants or statutory auditors.
All companies that are legally constituted on the 1st of March, have organised accounting, can prove their SME status and have their tax and contributory situation regularised will be able to submit applications. Companies must also be located in RAM.
Applications opened on the 8th of June, and Rui Barreto states that the process is simple.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
