6th-Industrialization Challenge Support Subsidy

①Overview: The 6th-Industrialization Challenge Support Subsidy is a municipal-level subsidy program supporting in-city farmers and businesses that develop processed products using in-city agricultural produce, or that pursue value-added sales channel development for in-city agricultural produce. The aim is to integrate primary (agriculture), secondary (manufacturing) and tertiary (distribution/sales) industries ("6th industrialization") at the regional level. ②Eligible applicants: (1) in-city farmers, (2) groups primarily composed of in-city farmers, or (3) companies and sole proprietors with a business location in the city. When applications exceed capacity, priority goes to first-time recipients. Funds are disbursed within the budgetary limit. ③Eligible expenses & benefit content: Track (1) Processed-product development using in-city produce — eligible expenses include equipment, repairs, and construction contracts; requires a plan showing annual sales ≥ JPY 300,000. Track (2) Value-added sales channel development for in-city produce — eligible expenses include course fees, travel, consumables, printing/binding, communications/transport, advertising; requires a plan showing annual sales ≥ JPY 200,000. The business plan must specify the amount of in-city produce used and the sales plan (price, quantity, customers). ④Rate, ceiling, schedule, application pointers: Subsidy rate is up to 1/2 for both tracks. Ceiling: JPY 400,000 for track (1), JPY 200,000 for track (2). Only expenses ≥ JPY 50,000 are eligible; small low-value items (< JPY 10,000) and general-purpose office equipment are not. Multi-year plans are limited to 2 fiscal years, with one subsidy per track per year. A status report is required the year after implementation.