SME Wage Increase Environment Improvement Emergency Support Subsidy (Multi-Operator Collaboration Frame)

This subsidy by the Iwate Federation of Small Business Associations supports SMEs and small businesses in Iwate Prefecture that engage in environment improvement for proper price pass-through and wage increases. Under a cooperative or business-linkage group structure, multiple SMEs can jointly undertake projects in digitalization, HR development, operational efficiency, product/service development, market expansion, and risk-response strengthening. Funded by the national Price-Hike Response Local Revitalization Emergency Grant. Eligible applicants are: (1) SME cooperatives (business cooperatives, commercial-industrial cooperatives, shopping-street cooperatives, sanitation cooperatives, enterprise cooperatives, cooperative associations including federations) with offices in Iwate; or (2) SMEs and small businesses per Article 2 of the SME Basic Act. Mandatory requirements: certified Management Innovation Plan under Article 14 of the SME Management Strengthening Act, AND registration on the Partnership Building Declaration portal before the deadline. Applicants who have applied to other frames (standard/digital-utilization) are excluded. Eligible expenses span 9 categories: machinery, equipment, rental/lease, raw materials, expert fees, expert travel, outsourcing, commissioning, and advertising. Five eligible project types: (1) digital/DX promotion (EC sites, member apps); (2) HR development (joint consulting, industry-image HP/video); (3) efficiency/cost reduction (joint procurement, joint logistics); (4) product/service development and sales expansion; (5) risk-response via joint BCP planning. Consumption tax, vehicle purchases, and general-purpose items are excluded. Maximum subsidy per cooperative/group: JPY 2,000,000; minimum JPY 500,000 (rounded down to nearest JPY 1,000). Subsidy rate: up to 2/3, raised to up to 4/5 for cooperatives composed mainly of small businesses and for small-business members of business-linkage groups. Application window: Reiwa 8 (2026) March 23 (Mon) through June 10 (Wed) 17:00 (must arrive). Subsidy project period: from grant decision through February 5, 2027 (Fri). Required documents include the application form (Form 1-1 or 1-2), business plan, budget plan, anti-organized-crime affidavit, management innovation plan approval copy, partnership declaration proof, and business-activity documents — 1 original + 3 copies. Submit by mail or in-person to the Federation's Cooperation Support Division in Morioka.