Maebashi Lively & Bustling Shopping District Support Subsidy

(1) Overview: This is Maebashi City's FY R8 (2026) 'Lively & Bustling Shopping District Support Subsidy', effective from April 1, 2026. It supports shopping districts (shotengai) in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture, in carrying out events that promote interaction with local residents and attract customers, or mid-to-long-term initiatives that strengthen information dissemination and business infrastructure of shopping districts. The objective is to foster sustainable shopping districts and revitalize the local economy. The administering office is the Commerce Promotion Section of the Lively Commerce Division at Maebashi City Hall. (2) Eligible applicants: Organizations with their main office in Maebashi City that fall under one of the following: (1) shopping district promotion associations (shotengai shinkou kumiai) based on the Shopping District Promotion Association Act; (2) voluntary shopping district organizations with a designated representative and proper financial management capability, including federations of adjacent organizations; (3) other organizations recognized as appropriate by the mayor. All eight anti-organized-crime requirements must also be satisfied. (3) Eligible expenses and content: Two project categories exist. 'Event Type' covers events (summer festivals, marches), stamp rallies, sales promotions (cashback sales, lottery campaigns). 'Shopping District Revitalization Type' covers website creation/updates, newsletter publication, SNS use, video dissemination, vacant store utilization, landscape improvement, market research, customer analysis, store function enhancement, DX introduction. Eligible expenses include materials, equipment rental, printing, office supplies, communication fees, venue rental, fees, postage, prizes, advertising, facility use fees, honoraria to external experts, travel, installation/outsourcing, research outsourcing, production/development outsourcing, planning/advisory outsourcing, and insurance. Entertainment, food/drink, and condolence expenses are excluded. (4) Subsidy rate, ceiling, schedule and application points: The subsidy rate is 1/2 for both categories. Annual ceiling per organization is JPY 100,000 for Event Type and JPY 130,000 for Shopping District Revitalization Type. Multiple applications within the same fiscal year are allowed up to the ceiling, but Event Type and Revitalization Type cannot be combined in the same year. Application period: April 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027; projects must complete and pay by March 31, 2027. Required documents include application form, business plan, organization profile, income/expenditure budget, and quotations for Revitalization Type projects. Email submission is allowed when the seal is omitted. Acceptance ends if the budget is exhausted.