Chiayi City Youth Entrepreneurship Subsidy Program Launched, No Industry Restrictions

The Chiayi City Government held a briefing session today for the "Chiayi City Youth Entrepreneurship Incentive and Subsidy Program," with a total budget of NT$3.5 million. Chiayi City Deputy Mayor Chen Yung-feng expressed support and encouragement to the young entrepreneurs present, promising that the city government would be the youth's "strongest backing." The Chiayi City Labor and Youth Development Department's briefing session today, in addition to explaining the application content and key implementation points, also invited teams that received subsidies last year (2025) to share practical experiences and provided immediate consultation services. Chen Yung-feng stated that since its inception, the Youth Entrepreneurship Incentive and Subsidy Program has assisted 56 teams in stable development, cumulatively investing approximately NT$14 million in subsidies. The survival rate of entrepreneurial teams has reached 91%, creating over NT$600 million in revenue, gradually accumulating urban entrepreneurial energy. The city government will continue to assist youth in strengthening their operational capabilities and market competitiveness by combining local culture and social needs through subsidy resources, professional guidance, and training courses. Lin Chia-wei, Director of the Labor and Youth Development Department, said that this year's program has a total budget of NT$3.5 million, with a maximum subsidy of NT$900,000 per case. Applications are accepted until April 30 this year. The subsidy is not limited by industry category, covering diverse fields such as catering, design, cultural and creative industries, education, and technology services. It encourages young teams with innovative ideas and feasible operational plans to apply, promoting diverse entrepreneurial development. "Aquarium Planet" and "Tingkou Metalworking Bistro," teams that received subsidies last year, attended and shared their application experiences with young entrepreneurs. Yao Rui-jie, the person in charge of Aquarium Planet, stated that her original intention for entrepreneurship was to promote aquarium education, reduce the abandonment of aquatic pets, and make aquariums a medium for life education. She admitted that the entrepreneurial journey has not been easy and thanked the city government for not only providing financial subsidies but also actively caring and assisting in solving problems during the implementation period, making the team feel like they had "a strong mountain to rely on." Chen Yu-fang, the person in charge of Tingkou Metalworking Bistro, recalled that when the store was first established, they rented an old wooden house over 90 years old, which had rotten beams, leaks, and termite problems. Fortunately, with the assistance of the Chiayi City Government, they received recommendations and support from manufacturers, allowing them to accelerate renovations and open smoothly. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150413