The "Start Your Business" program is being launched in a new format for social entrepreneurs in Vyksa and Kulebaki.

      On May 7, 2026, at 14:37, Economy In the Nizhny Novgorod region, the acceptance of applications for participation in the social entrepreneurship development program "Start Your Own Business" has begun. The program, aimed at improving the quality of life, is available to residents of Vyksa and Kulebaki.

      The "Start Your Own Business" program has been jointly conducted in the region since 2018 by the United Metallurgical Company (OMK), the government of the Nizhny Novgorod region, the Center for Social Innovation of the region (CISS NO), the administrations of Vyksa and Kulebaki, as well as the Vyksa Business Incubator and the Kulebaki Center for Entrepreneurship Support. This year, an information partner, LLC "Vyksa-Media," has joined the project.

      The program aims to find and select the best social business projects that contribute to improving the quality of life, the emergence of new socially significant services, and the creation of employment opportunities, including for people with disabilities.

      "Thanks to initiatives like the 'Start Your Own Business' program, a sustainable ecosystem of social business is being formed in the region, where business ideas are combined with social impact. We thank OMK for its long-term partnership and systematic support for social entrepreneurs, which is becoming an important part of our regional policy in the social sphere," noted Igor Sedykh, Minister of Social Development and Family Policy of the Nizhny Novgorod region.

      The updated "Start Your Own Business" program will launch in May 2026. It will now run on a two-year cycle, giving participants more time to develop ideas, test hypotheses, and build partnerships. The program includes two consecutive tracks that will help participants not only launch a project but also build a sustainable social business.

      The first track, "Training and Entrepreneurs' Club," will start soon. Participants will undergo comprehensive training with the involvement of specialized experts, refine their business ideas with professional support, and master modern resource attraction methods. An important part of the track will be the launch of the Social Entrepreneurs' Club—a platform for sharing experiences and implementing joint initiatives at the regional and interregional levels. At the end of the first stage, 15 winners will be selected, who will receive a package of advertising services to promote their projects from the information partner, and three best participants will receive grants of 100,000 rubles each.

      In 2027, the second track of the program, "Grants and Mentorship," will begin. A key event here will be a grant competition for participants of the previous stage. The jury will select 15 projects in Vyksa and Kulebaki, which will receive financial support and assistance in promoting their projects. Additionally, the three best projects will be eligible for increased grants of up to 500,000 rubles. All competition winners, as well as participants of the first track who launched projects without grant support, will receive mentorship from experts until the end of 2027.

      The updated program places special focus on large families and women entrepreneurs. The company has provided flexible training formats and special consultations on balancing business with family responsibilities.

      "Every fifth resident of Vyksa is an employee of the metallurgical plant, and if we count families, it’s practically the entire city. Therefore, despite economic challenges, we have maintained social projects that have proven their effectiveness. Just last year, thanks to our grants, entrepreneurs in Vyksa and Kulebaki launched or expanded 27 businesses in the city's social sphere. Among them are creative workshops, small medical centers, a store, a café, and a hobby club. Since the launch of the 'Start Your Own Business' program in the regions where the company operates, we have helped create about 800 jobs in nearly 500 social entrepreneurial business projects. Investments amounted to over 120 million rubles," said Ekaterina Koshienko, head of sustainable development at OMK.

      In 2025, the "Start Your Own Business" program became a laureate of the All-Russian competition "My Kind Business" of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, confirming its high level of effectiveness and significance for the development of social entrepreneurship in the region.

      "For us, it is especially important that the program not only helps participants go from idea to project launch but also creates a professional environment around social entrepreneurs. The recognition of the program at the federal level confirms that this format of support is in demand and truly yields results for the development of social business," emphasized Svetlana Kashina, director of CISS NO.

      Commercial and non-commercial organizations, individual entrepreneurs conducting their activities in Vyksa and Kulebaki, as well as those who are just considering starting their own social business, are invited to participate in the program. The main goal of the "Start Your Own Business" program is to develop social business, support initiatives aimed at solving socially significant tasks, and increase civic and business activity.

      Participation in the program is free. You can find out more about the program and apply for participation until May 27, 2026, at the website: cissno52.ru/nachnisvoedelo/.

      Information about social entrepreneurship support programs in the region can be obtained by contacting CISS NO by phone: 8 (831) 435-15-24, by email: info@cissno52.ru, or in person at: Nizhny Novgorod, Akademika Sakharova St., 4, office 529.

      Supporting entrepreneurship, including social-oriented initiatives, is the main task of the federal project "Small and Medium Entrepreneurship" of the national project "Effective and Competitive Economy," which is implemented at the initiative of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. The activities of the regional Center for Social Innovation, established in 2017, contribute to achieving this goal. The NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.