As part of the 'Policy Support for Industrial Resilience' online webinar which took place on the 26-06-2020, Szombathely ReStart the local programme designed to reinforce adaptation to the post-covid era and maintaining competitiveness for the ecosystem by respecting social inclusions presented by Adrienn Bokányi, Economic Councillor, at City of Szombathely. In her intervention, Adrienn focused on introducing 3 pillars of the program.
Due to the difficult situation caused by the coronavirus epidemic and the expected economic crisis, management of Szombathely City is focusing on the future and the restart of the city's economic life, therefore the Szombathely Restart Program was launched in April 2020.
Multinational companies were also affected by COVID-19, they were reducing production or even closing down, service sector partially closed and further damaged by large employer shutdown.
These facts led to launch local discussions to elaborate a supporting program helping to restart the local economy. Key focus areas were defined by the municipality together with large employers and representatives of local businesses. Many of the local business actors e.g. Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vas County, Centre of Enterprises, representatives of multinationals, Szombathely Market Hall, municipal institutions, business entities and public utility companies, local universities were taking part in the conciliation process coordinated by the City.
Image: Consultation of the local actors (Balázs Barta, PBN; Károly Balogh, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vas County; Csaba Babos, Centre of Enterprises; dr. András Nemény, Mayor of Szombathely City; dr. Előd Kovács Cabinet leader, Adrienn Bokányi Economic Councillor, dr. Ákos Károlyi Notary of City Szombathely, dr. Attila Horváth Vice Mayor also responsible for economic development
During the consultations, the following key intervention areas were defined:
- Social assistance benefits – financial subsidy for the dismissed labor force due to Covid-19, suspension of the collection of rental and public utility debts during the pandemic situation
- Three pillars of ReStart Program:
a). Buy Local – market voucher program, support and promotion of local supplier relationships, utilization of local producers for the public sector, promotional gifts with ReStart visuals
b). Be Online – financial support for SMEs to go online - webpage, webshop, social media representation, online invoicing software
c). Spend Wisely – rent allowance for SMEs, public space usage fee discount for SMEs, discounted advertising in the municipal media for SMEs. Targeted for companies with employee protection.
Image: The market voucher launched by City Szombathely
For the social benefits €1.4 million social fund were dedicated to specific actions and further €0.5 million to entrepreneurial actions. So far (June 2020) 50% of the allocated budget were spent for the social actions and 40% for entrepreneurial activities which means that more than 3.200 people have requested the financial subsidy for dismissed labor force due to Covid-19 (300 euro/person), one third of them have already got it at current processing. 558 people got the market voucher (in value of 100 euro/person). 44 SMEs got rent allowance and further 16 SMEs got public space usage fee discount.
For further information on the Szombathely ReStart Program contact Adrienn Bokányi, Economic Councillor | Szombathely City with County Rights,
E-mail: [email protected]
