Since its implementation in 2013, Crescer has already benefited 242 rural and urban entrepreneurs from Alvorada de Minas, Conceição do Mato Dentro, Dom Joaquim and Serro, in Minas Gerais. In just over three years of activity, the initiative has offered in-person training and consulting to help participants improve their business processes and access investment opportunities and low-cost financing sources. As a result, R$1 million in financing and credit was mobilized and the maturity level of participating businesses increased by R$141,300,000 – measured by evaluating parameters such as strategy, finance, operations, marketing and people management.
In 2017, we entered a new phase of the Program, in partnership with Technoserve and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). We will directly benefit approximately 1,300 people, including milk and cheese producers, horticulturists, beekeepers, tourism entrepreneurs, public servants, and young people living in rural areas.
In the following lines, you can see how the next three years of the initiative, with efforts on the most different fronts, are directly related to no less than seven of the 17 SDGs: Eradication of Poverty (SDG 1), Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Decent Employment and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Reduction of Inequalities (SDG 10), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), Climate Action (SDG 13) and Life on Earth (SDG 15).
These actions contribute to reducing the proportion of people living in poverty, increase agricultural activity and the income of small producers, promote sustainable income development for the poorest population and initiatives for entrepreneurship and employability for young people. However, the Program will also encourage sustainable public procurement and tourism practices. Regarding environmental preservation, the activities include an approach that encourages effective management, the adoption of best resilience practices to deal with climate change and the conservation, recovery and sustainable use of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. By 2019, participants will benefit from new technical and managerial practices through training and qualifications.
New Directions for Growth
For rural entrepreneurs, the focus is on business development based on diagnostics and through training and technical advice. For young people living in rural areas, the proposal includes training and activities on topics such as entrepreneurship and preparation for the job market. By 2019, the expectation is that 1,057 rural young people will participate in the Program's activities.
In addition, the Program also includes the involvement of the government, with incentives for the adoption of the General Law, which regulates the preferential, simplified and differentiated treatment for micro and small businesses and individual microentrepreneurs, as a strategy for job creation, income distribution, social inclusion, reduction of informality and strengthening of the local economy. In this area of Crescer's activities, 21 public servants from the City Halls of Alvorada de Minas, Conceição do Mato Dentro, Dom Joaquim and Serro are directly involved. The valorization of local producers, monitoring the level of effectiveness of the benefits of the General Law, strengthening practices to reduce bureaucracy and providing assistance to individual microentrepreneurs are among the activities that will be carried out in the Program.
In the field of tourism, Crescer prepared a diagnosis of the activity in the region of Conceição do Mato Dentro and, based on this, created a work plan to encourage the sector. Around one hundred entrepreneurs from the sector, including transportation, food and accommodation companies, are being involved in the activities of the work plan, which includes the creation of a standard itinerary for tourism in the city, which is considered the Ecotourism Capital of Minas Gerais.
As a whole, the new stage of the Program will also reach another 5,116 people directly and indirectly, who will benefit from activities extended to the community and the participants' families.
With an eye on the future, the goals of the Crescer Program are ambitious. By 2019, they aim to contribute to:
– maintenance of 650 jobs and the creation of at least 15 jobs in the region;
– 20% increase in sales and an opening of new markets 50% higher for rural producers.
To inspire us for the future with the good experience we have already had, below you can see how Crescer has already changed the lives of many entrepreneurs in the Conceição do Mato Dentro region.
