Businesses submit projects worth over BGN 1 billion in coal regions

Record interest in support for businesses in coal regions – over 2,100 project proposals were submitted under the procedure “Diversification and adaptation of small and medium-sized enterprises to the economic transition,” which ended on May 15, 2025. The aid requested is four times the budget for the procedure, which amounts to BGN 250 million in non-repayable financial assistance.

The procedure is part of Priority 4 “Fair Transition” of the Regional Development Program 2021 – 2027, co-financed by the European Union through the Just Transition Fund (JTF) and national co-financing. It is aimed at micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, including start-ups in Pernik, Kyustendil, Stara Zagora, and the municipalities of the Maritsa basin, with the aim of supporting the economic transformation of regions affected by the transition to climate neutrality.

With huge interest from local businesses, entrepreneurs showed they're ready to:

• adapt their activities to the green transition,
• invest in new technologies and modernization,
• create sustainable jobs in the future low-carbon economy.

The projects will go through an evaluation and ranking process, with the best ideas getting a chance to be implemented and contribute to the economic and environmental renewal of the region.

Under the terms of the procedure, the minimum amount of aid is BGN 50,000 and the maximum amount is BGN 500,000 for micro and small enterprises and BGN 1,000,000 for medium-sized enterprises, depending on the minimum/state aid regime.

Co-Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Managing Authority. Neither the European Union nor the Managing Authority can be held responsible for them.

Translated with DeepL.