Hirakawa City Startup Support Subsidy (FY2026)

(1) Overview The FY2026 Hirakawa City Startup Support Subsidy (Aomori Prefecture) helps newly-launching businesses in the city by covering part of their equipment and fit-out costs, to revitalize local industry and economy. The flow is: operator certification (Form 1) -> start -> business-start notice (Form 3) -> grant application & report (Form 6) -> grant decision (Form 7) -> payment request (Form 8). (2) Eligible parties Applicants must satisfy ALL of: no resident/property/vehicle/health-insurance tax arrears (incl. all household members); will set up a store or office in Hirakawa City; have completed (or will complete) a specified startup-support program (1+ month, 4+ sessions on management/finance/HR/sales); hold required licenses; will join the local chamber of commerce; and have not received Hirakawa's other startup subsidies. Excluded: franchise, adult entertainment, organized crime, political/religious activities, public-order-violating businesses, those reopening the same business within 1 year of closure, and prior recipients. (3) Eligible expenses Five categories (Appendix, Article 5): advertising; printing & binding (flyers, pamphlets - business cards excluded); outsourcing (design, web, cleaning); equipment purchase (machinery, fixtures, furniture); construction (interior/exterior, plumbing, HVAC, electrical). Only expenses ordered, contracted, delivered AND paid AFTER municipal certification qualify. Excluded: consumption tax, utilities, consumables, general-purpose items (PC/smartphone), pre-application purchases. (4) Rate, cap, schedule Up to 1/2 of eligible costs, capped at JPY 500,000 (rounded down to nearest 1,000 yen); if combined with other subsidies, 1/2 of the net after deducting them. The project MUST be funded with a bank loan and expected to run 3+ years. Steps: (1) certification application; (2) start business within 1 year + submit start notice; (3) grant application & report after 12 months from certification; (4) submit annual implementation report by end of April for 3 years after completion. Stopping/closing/relocating triggers pro-rata repayment. Contact: Hirakawa City Commerce, Industry & Tourism Div., Tel 0172-55-5732.