Imari City SME DX/GX Support Subsidy

The Imari City SME DX/GX Support Subsidy is a Saga Prefecture municipal subsidy program designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises located in Imari City as they navigate international economic changes and rising prices. The program supports DX (Digital Transformation) and GX (Green Transformation) initiatives aimed at improving productivity and strengthening business foundations through labor-saving, energy-saving and digitalization measures. The FY2026 (Reiwa 8) version covers project activities between April 1, 2026 and January 31, 2027. Eligible applicants are SMEs and small businesses (including sole proprietors) with stores or business locations in Imari City conducting for-profit activities, as well as comparable-sized legal entities. Exclusions include businesses delinquent on municipal taxes, deemed-large enterprises (those where a single large enterprise holds 1/2 or more of shares, or where large-enterprise-affiliated officers comprise 1/2 of the board), businesses regulated under the Adult Entertainment Business Law, organized crime affiliates, public corporations, political organizations, and religious organizations. Past recipients from FY2023-FY2025 are generally excluded except when applying for a different program menu. The subsidy covers two mutually exclusive project types: (1) Projects introducing IT tools that contribute to DX/GX promotion, where software/cloud services must be included and hardware is limited to the minimum necessary for IT tool use (air conditioners, solar power equipment, and storage batteries themselves are NOT eligible); and (2) Projects involving expert-supported analysis and planning for DX/GX initiatives where specialists provide hands-on support to visualize business processes and identify improvement areas. Eligible expenses include software installation costs, hardware costs (auxiliary to software), and commissioning fees for consulting, diagnosis, training, and system design/construction. The subsidy rate is two-thirds of eligible expenses (excluding consumption tax), with a minimum of 50,000 yen and maximum of 500,000 yen (rounded down to the nearest thousand). The application window runs from May 15, 2026 to November 30, 2026, with applications submitted by mail or in person. Required documents include: Application Form (Form No. 1), Business Plan (Form 1 Attachment 1), quotations/catalogs, certified copy of corporate registration, copy of corporate tax return Schedule 1, ID verification for sole proprietors, Pledge (Form 1 Attachment 2), and Tax Status Verification Consent Form (Form 1 Attachment 3). Approval typically takes 2 weeks to 1 month after receipt, and final reporting is required within 30 days of project completion or by January 31, 2027, whichever is earlier.