1. Improving the Legislative and Regulatory Framework for Business Operations
1.1 Conducing studies and analyses to develop proposals to improve the business regulatory environment at the regional and local level. The drafting a package of regulations and regulatory mechanisms intended to implement streamlined and transparent processes for making management decisions.
1.2 Ensuring statistical and analytical support of businesses’ operations and investment activities. The implementation of a system for the ongoing monitoring of economic statistical indicators focusing on the business environment.
1.3 Monitoring the implementation of the city regulatory policy.
2. Developing a Long-Term City Council Policy to Promote Business Development
2.1 Establishing relationships with organizations and NGOs which collaborate with businesses to promote and protect business interests.
2.2 Organizing round tables and conferences to identify businesses’ needs and problems at the municipal level.
2.3 Drafting and discussing an “Authorities-Business-NGO” memorandum.
2.4 Signing a memorandum between the City Council and interested business unions/associations of entrepreneurs, placing these partnerships on a formal basis.
2.5 Setting up a Steering Committee on Entrepreneurship.
2.6 Adopting an anticorruption program in a transparent and effective manner.
2.7 Drafting, discussing, and approving regulatory procedures and related documents.
2.8 Organizing and supporting public education projects and programs in the small business area.
2.9 Earmarking funds to support small business development in next year’s city budget.
2.10 Optimizing administrative and legal regulation of economic relations in the entrepreneurship area, specifically:
- Ensuring public discussion (including discussion by the Steering Committee) of draft regulations that have an essential impact on the market environment, affecting the rights and interests of entrepreneurs.
- Monitoring effectiveness of regulations.
- Implementing practices for reviewing and revision of ineffective regulations.
2.11 Designing training programs on business fundamentals and including these programs in secondary schools’ curriculum as optional subjects.
2.12 Providing support to the media.
3. Creating and Developing an Entrepreneurship Promotion Network.
Supporting the Business Services Market
3.1 Creating an Information and Resource Coordination Center (IRCC) to promote business development.
3.2 Rehabilitating, equipping, and funding operation of the IRCC; providing institutional support during the early phase of the IRCC operation.
3.3 Creating and maintaining information resources to update businessmen on:
- Procedures for registering of new businesses.
- Procedures for licensing of selected activities.
- Local regulations on various aspects of business operation, fairs, bazaars, etc.
- Regulations and procedures for obtaining permits for construction, re-equipment of premises, requirements to small construction projects, and other requirements issued by the local architecture department.
- The availability of land plots; costs of land plots; procedures for obtaining and privatizing land plots; etc.
- The availability of commercial property, uncompleted construction projects; costs of these projects; etc.
- Bids received by the city from other regions and countries.
- Major regulations in the business area issued at the local and national levels.
3.4 The support of the market of business services (consultancy, occupational training, etc.) provided by organizations and institutions in the small business area.
3.5 Monitoring development of the entrepreneur support infrastructure.
3.6 Ensuring dissemination of information on local business to chambers of trade and commerce, embassies’ trade missions, and overseas Ukrainian trade missions.
3.7 Develop regulations and conduct a number of contests, such as “Best Entrepreneur of the Year,” “Company that Created the Largest Number of New Jobs during the Year,” “Lviv Trademark,” “Company that Created the Largest Number of New Jobs for Women,” “Businesswomen of the Year,”,and others.
3.8 Conducting workshops, seminars, conferences, and roundtables on entrepreneur matters with the involvement of experts, academicians, representatives of businesses, banks, media, and the tax administration.
3.9 Preparing and publishing the “How to Do Business in Our City” Directory.
3.10 To create a separate Web page to be incorporated in the city’s existing Web portal. (Creating a dedicated business Web portal may be an alternative.)
Note to Section 3. We assume that the city has a structural unit or official responsible for economic development. Otherwise, creating this unit or appointing this official must be the first step. The personnel of this unit must be trained accordingly. Needless to say, the unit must be equipped with modern computers and office equipment.
4. Finance, Loan, Investment, and Marketing Support of Small Businesses
4.1 Developing a contest for the promotion of innovative projects in the small business sector.
4.2 Organizing and holding the contest of investment projects, awarding contest winners.
4.3 Developing and updating information and presentations of municipal investment opportunities and proposals (CD, investment directory, Web page).
4.3 Developing municipal investment projects and programs.
4.5 Supporting trade fairs:
- Preparing the city trade mart development project (unless the city trade mart exists).
- Promoting participation of businesses in trade fairs.
4.6 Organizing and conducting “contracts exchanges,” investment forums and presentations.
4.7 Presenting opportunities for small businesses provided by microlenders (banks).
4.8 Conducting seminars and roundtables (authorities + small businesses) with involvement of bankers.
5. Encouraging Entrepreneurs Operating in High Priority Areas. Solving the Unemployment Problem
5.1 Granting local tax concessions to businesses which:
- Create new jobs.
- Operate in the high priority production sector.
- Create more new jobs for young people and women.
