Manufacturing Company Working Environment Improvement Subsidy

(1) Overview: This is the FY2026 subsidy operated by the Sapporo Industrial Promotion Foundation (Sapporo Sangyo Shinko Zaidan) to provide financial support for manufacturing companies within the Sapporo Coordination Core City Zone for initiatives that improve the working environment, with the goal of securing and retaining human resources in the manufacturing industry. Applications are reviewed by experts and supported within the budget. Approximately 8 projects are expected to be adopted (up to 1 company headquartered outside Sapporo City). (2) Eligible Applicants: Small and medium-sized manufacturing or construction enterprises (sole proprietors excluded) that have their head office and production base within the Sapporo Coordination Core City Zone (12 municipalities including Sapporo, Otaru, Iwamizawa, Ebetsu, Chitose, Eniwa, Kitahiroshima, Ishikari, Tobetsu, Shinshinotsu, Nanporo, Naganuma). Construction businesses must have a permanent base for processing materials used in construction. Applicants must have been established for at least 1 year, have no unpaid municipal taxes, not be under corporate reorganization or civil rehabilitation, and not be engaged in adult entertainment or affiliated with organized crime. (3) Eligible Expenses and Content: The target projects involve the installation of equipment that improves the working environment of employees engaged in manufacturing work at production bases. Examples include jigs/machines to reduce heavy work, air conditioning/heating equipment, dust and noise reduction equipment, safety-enhancing equipment, and new/expanded toilets, break rooms, and changing rooms. Eligible expense categories are equipment costs (including transportation), construction costs (installation, building work), and design costs (construction design). Consumption tax, land/building purchases, vehicles, office equipment, used goods, consumables, and welfare-only equipment are excluded. (4) Rate, Cap, Schedule, Application Points: The subsidy rate is 1/2 of eligible expenses, with a cap of 1.5 million yen (rounded down to the nearest 1,000 yen). Schedule: public offering opens April 15 (Wed), applicant briefing April 23 (Thu), application deadline June 17 (Wed) 12:00 noon strict, interview review around July 10 (Fri), subsidy recipient decision late July, project completion by February 26, 2027. Required documents include Forms 1-4, 3 years of financial statements, commercial registration certificate, and municipal tax certificates. Submission requires 1 original + 9 copies + 1 USB memory; email and FAX submissions are not accepted.