MUNICIPALITY SUPPORT

 1. Akmenė district municipality has foreseen various privileges, which add up to the largest number in Lithuania, allocated for business start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SME), from the municipality's fund for business encouragement:

1.1. Privileged loans are granted to persons, who start their own business, for a period of 3 years with one-year privileged period, when applying the interest rate of 5%;

1.2. The interest for loans, received for implementation of business development projects, is partly compensated up to 50% of the bank loan interest (however, not more than 5,000 Litas per loan), not longer than for 2 years from the date, when the loan was taken out;

1.3. Costs for participation in international and local commercial fairs are partly refunded (up to 50%, but not more than 5,000 Litas);

1.4. Costs for preparation of investment projects are partly refunded for persons, who took part in business development programmes and funds (up to 50%, but not more than 5,000 Litas);

1.5. Costs for implementation of infrastructure management projects are partly refunded (up to 50%, but not more than 5,000 Litas);

1.6. Costs for registration of an enterprise are refunded to those being unemployed, who wish to independently start their own business;

1.7.The assets are allocated for the following:

1.7.1. training and consultation of entrepreneurs according to business development programmes, on issues regarding business organisation and administration, market research, accounting management, taxes, legal matters and etc.;

1.7.2. partly financing of publications on business information and those forming the image of the region.

2. Minimum fixed income taxes are established for private activity, which may be carried out, having a business certificate.

3. Income taxes, which are lower by 50%, are established for private activity, which may be carried out, having a business certificate by physically disabled of 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd groups, pensioners, whose children study full-time in higher, technical and vocational schools and are not older than 24 years old, who grow alone at least one child under 18 years old, and spouses, growing three and more children under 18 years old or a child, who is physically disabled.

4. The following persons are exempt from income tax for private activity, which may be carried out, having a business certificate: those being unemployed, who according to the established order have been registered in the employment office - for 6 months, which are valid in a business certificate within a calendar year, if the business certificate has been issued for at least one month; such unemployed, who acquires a commercial business certificates - for 180 days, which are valid in a business certificate within a calendar year; inhabitants providing accommodation services (rural tourism, bed and breakfast), activity of tourist guides.

5. Enterprises being established are exempt from the state rent of land, land and real estate tax for two years; such taxes for the enterprises, which are creating new work places, are reduced from 50 up to 100%.

6. Favourable conditions for the purchase and renting the land plots and other real estate.

7. There is a tourism and business information center, which provides to entrepreneurs subsidized training, consulting services as well as information for business enterprises on urgent issues.

The information is provided in the Local economy and estate department of the Akmenė district municipality administration in the following address: L. Petravičiaus St. 2, LT-85132 Naujoji Akmenė, Akmenė district.

Responsible person: Stasė Racevičienė, tel.: +370 425 56613, fax: +370 425 56594, e-mail: stase@akmene.lt

Additional information: tel.: +370 425 57133, +370 425 56613, fax: +370 425 56594

E-mail: info@akmene.lt