2026 Hiroshima City Productivity Improvement Challenge Support Grant

[1. Overview] The 2026 Hiroshima City Productivity Improvement Challenge Support Grant helps small/medium businesses in Hiroshima City invest in productivity, value-added improvements, and sales channel development as preparation for wage increases. Operators design their own business plans and receive up to JPY 2,000,000 covering 75% of eligible expenses. Funded by the national 'Price-Hike Response Priority Support Regional Revitalization Grant'; ~550 cases will be adopted. Operated by the dedicated Hiroshima City Productivity Improvement Challenge Support Grant Office (Kamiyacho Bldg 6F, 082-248-6911), the program combines business-plan strategy support with cash payment. [2. Eligibility] SMEs in Hiroshima City meeting all of (1)–(5): (1) SME per Small/Medium Enterprise Basic Act Article 2 §1 (1)–(4): Manufacturing/Construction/Transport ≤JPY 300M capital or ≤300 employees; Wholesale ≤JPY 100M / ≤100 employees; Services ≤JPY 50M / ≤100 employees; Retail ≤JPY 50M / ≤50 employees (either threshold qualifies); (2) operating in Hiroshima City; (3) no organized-crime ties; (4) not a 'deemed-large enterprise' (≥1/2 shares owned by one large enterprise, ≥2/3 by large enterprises, or ≥1/2 board members from large enterprises); (5) ≥1 fiscal year of business as of 2026-04-01. Eligible entity types: companies (KK/GK/Gomei/Goshi/special yugen), professional-services corporations, SME cooperatives (excl. shopping-street associations), sole proprietors, qualifying NPOs (must have taxable business activities; not 'certified NPO'). Excluded: doctors/dentists/midwives, sole farmers/foresters/fishers (processing OK), public-interest/medical/religious/educational/agricultural-cooperative/social-welfare corporations, shopping-street associations, voluntary groups, businesses started after 2026-04-01. [3. Eligible Expenses / Content] Eligible projects: wage-environment improvement via productivity/value-added gains and channel expansion (sole proprietors without employees: income increase). Examples: machinery for cost reduction, inventory/sales/customer management systems, AI/sensor production management, packaging/design upgrades, local-source value-added products, customer-experience improvements, EC/web site, exhibition participation, store renovation. Excluded: services equivalent to public health/care insurance reimbursement (day-care, taxis, pharmacies, type A/B employment support), unprofitable projects, gambling, anti-social activities. Three cost conditions: (1) clearly identifiable as necessary, (2) ordered after grant approval and paid within period (exhibition applications may precede), (3) verifiable via evidence. Payment: bank transfer (primary); cash ≤JPY 100K (tax-excl) with explanation; credit cards only if bank withdrawal occurs in period (corporate/representative name); reimbursements with conditions; cryptocurrency/coupons/gift certificates excluded. Excluded costs: taxes, basic operating costs, inventory purchases, generic items (gasoline, PCs, tablets, phones, household equipment, generic software), double-funded items. [4. Rate / Cap / Schedule / Tips] Cap JPY 2,000,000 at 3/4 of eligible expenses (settlement-payment basis). ~550 cases. Application period: 2026-05-11 (Mon) — 2026-06-19 (Fri). Grant decision early-to-mid August 2026. Project implementation: from grant decision through 2027-01-31 (Sun); all payments must be completed by 1/31. Report due 2027-02-10. WEB or postal application only (no in-person; WEB submission until 23:59, postal accepts day-of postmark). Required: Form 1 (application), Form 2 (business plan, sample available), Form 3 (cost breakdown, sample available), plus corporate=most recent BS/PL/corporate tax filing (cover + schedule 4) or individual=tax filing (forms 1-2 + cost breakdown 1-2 or blue-form business statement 1-4). Forms 4-10 (adoption/rejection notices, cancellation, achievement report, attachments, amount confirmation, asset register, asset disposal approval) used after adoption. Application Support Center (reservation only) operates 5/11–6/19. Official portal: https://hiroshima-seisansei-ouen.jp