Supporting Businesses in the Odesa Region: The Agency Brought Together Stakeholders in the Vyzyr Community
The team from the Regional Development Agency of Odesa Region, led by Director Serhiy Kononenko, held a working meeting with stakeholders from the Vyzyrsk Village Council, bringing together representatives from the business community, local government, the financial sector, and business support institutions.
The event was organized jointly with the Agency’s partners—the Odesa Regional Employment Center and Oschadbank—and with the support of the Vyzyrsk Village Council.
Purpose of the Meeting
The main goal of the event was not only to present existing business support tools but also to directly discuss with entrepreneurs and employers their needs, barriers to development, and financial opportunities already available today for scaling up their businesses.
Opportunities for Businesses in the Odesa Region
During his presentation, Agency Director Serhiy Kononenko outlined a range of opportunities available to businesses in the region with the Agency’s support:
- grant programs from Ukrainian and international donors;
- search for additional sources of funding and international technical assistance;
- support for investment projects;
- consulting support for entrepreneurs and communities;
- development of partnerships with international financial organizations and investors.
Practical Case Studies
Particular attention was paid to practical examples during the meeting. One such example was the story of entrepreneur Denys Dzyubuk, who, thanks to the “Own Business” grant program, is developing a business in the solar energy sector and actively utilizing government programs that support employers. For the Agency, such examples confirm that access to financial instruments, combined with high-quality expert support, creates real opportunities for the development of entrepreneurship in communities.
A separate part of the visit involved a tour of the “Svitlytsia Lastivka” tourism and recreation complex, which combines an ethnographic museum, an equestrian club, and tourism infrastructure. The Agency’s team discussed with the complex’s management the prospects for securing grant funding, developing tourism services, and utilizing state and international support programs to implement future projects.
The Agency’s Operating Model
This very model of operation is one of the Agency’s key areas of activity: rather than waiting for requests, it works directly within communities, meets with stakeholders, forms partnerships, and helps businesses secure financial resources for development.
The Regional Development Agency of Odesa Region continues to systematically build an ecosystem to support entrepreneurship by combining the capabilities of the government, financial institutions, international partners, and local businesses. Strong entrepreneurs, successful communities, and effective partnerships are shaping an economically resilient Odesa region.
