Running a business in a frontline region is both a challenge and a contribution to community life. Despite the dangers, shops, workshops, and service centers continue to operate in towns and villages across Donetsk region — and with them, local businesses continue to grow. The Employment Service supports entrepreneurs not only at the start with grant funding but also in finding personnel, adapting to new conditions, and accessing government support programs.
Here are the stories of those who have already benefited from grant programs and are now creating opportunities for others:
🔹 Olha Brynza, an entrepreneur who opened an auto repair shop, used her grant funds to purchase tire service equipment. This allowed her not only to expand her range of services but also to hire a new employee. The Employment Service supported her with a wage compensation for hiring an unemployed person.
🔹 Kostiantyn Honcharov calls his new combi steamer his “magic oven,” as the equipment — purchased with a microgrant — enabled him to greatly expand his menu. He created several new jobs, benefited from a single social contribution (SSC) compensation program, and later equipped a dedicated workplace for a person with a disability.
🔹 Olena Konstiantynova invested her grant in technical equipment for her "Prosto Market" store and has already hired three employees, including an internally displaced person (IDP). The state reimbursed her expenses, and the Employment Service continues to assist in staff recruitment.
🔹 Vadym Fedorenko, owner of a network of barbershops, used the "Own Business" program to equip his salons with necessary tools and create jobs for displaced persons. Employment Service specialists helped him find suitable staff.
🔹 Olha Dolzhenko, upon opening her mini-bakery, had a clear vision of her product and target customers from day one. Thanks to Employment Service programs, she received financial support from the state both for creating jobs and for hiring internally displaced persons.
So, the grant is only the first step. Ongoing success is built on partnership and mutual support. Entrepreneurs in Donetsk region continue to grow their businesses and create jobs for those who need them most. The Employment Service remains committed to supporting everyone who strives to grow, create employment, and strengthen Ukraine’s economy — even under the most difficult conditions.