WEE Sector Workshops for Women Entrepreneurs on WEE Grants Conclude
Approximately 200 women entrepreneurs participated in two webinars aiming to help them better assess and understand the relevant solutions for more efficient energy use in their daily business practices.
Starting at 10AM, the first webinar this Monday was dedicated to women entrepreneurs interested in investments ranging from €10,000 to €135,000. This Grant Component is called SMART, and it invites applications from women entrepreneurs who own at least 51% of their businesses, employ at least 5 workers, and have been in business for at least 2 years.
The afternoon webinar was dedicated to providing information to women entrepreneurs interested in grants up to to €10,000. Called the ADVANCED Component, this grant is designed to help individual women entrepreneurs, without any restriction on the number of employees, which have been in business for at least one year.
Opening remarks by MCC’s Country Director Sarah Olmstead and MFK’s CEO Petrit Selimi emphasized that MFK aims to increase participation of women in the energy sector and also help women-owned businesses meet their energy demands.
Janna Fortmann, the WEE Leading Specialist, expressed her excitement for the strong interest that women in Kosovo have shown for the WEE Program. “It was wonderful to meet all the inspired women business owners during our information workshops today. The variety of businesses owned by women in Kosovo is great and the motivation of these women is amazing. I truly look forward to receiving their grant applications”, she stated.
Following the webinar, sector workshops took place from Tuesday to Saturday, where women entrepreneurs from different business sectors had the opportunity to clarify any uncertainties with regards to investment ideas and the application process for WEE grants.
Through these grants, women entrepreneurs can invest in their businesses to upgrade various energy-consuming equipment. This will allow them to use energy more efficiently, which will translate into increased savings and growth.
The applications for both grant components are open until January 31.
