The Agency for Small and Mid-Sized Enterprises at the Ministry of the Economy has announced an emergency plan to assist businesses in war-battered southern communities.
The plan includes special assistance programs for small and mid-sized enterprises in the south, assistance in obtaining money from the property compensation fund, business advice and advice for obtaining financing from funds.
The special benefits will be available to small businesses up to 40 km from the Gaza border, who will receive fee exemption and expedited treatment. The program will be administered by the Maof network . Services will include
* Assistance in obtaining compensation from property tax – a new service to help enterprises navigate the bureaucracy at the Tax Authority, including filling out forms.
* Expert advice and business and marketing consultancy – eligibility for up to 20 extra hours of business consultancy.
* Special emergency guidance for businesspeople – led by experts and fully financed by the Agency on subjects related to the emergency situation (financing, labor law, cash flow, etc.)
* Advice for obtaining financing from funds – funds which have activated programs for this zone. The advice will help businesspeople fill out the necessary forms of a fund. The service is free.
In addition, the ministries of finance and the economy announced a special supplement of NIS 100 million to a loan-guarantee program for small- and mid-sized businesses in the Gaza Belt region. The program ensures government-backing for business loans in the area. Lastly, representatives of the agencies coordinating the government-back loans will be available to meet businesspeople at Maof offices in Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beersheva, and Sderot. The Agency states that businesspeople from the confrontation zone seeking assistance will be exempt from the NIS 250 registration fee and that applications will be handled expeditiously, taking nine days instead of the month required in normal times.
Minister of the Economy Naftali Bennett commented, “We are also supporting the soldiers on the economic front. Economic soundness and ensuring financial security of businesses in the south is a critical part of the strength of residents of the south. We are taking steps to support businesspeople and ensure their stability immediately, and we will continue to do so after Operation Protective Edge is over.”
For more information, residents of the eligible areas can telephone 1-700-558-040, or visit the Agency for Small and Mid-Sized Enterprise website at www.sba.economy.gov.il.