The subject of the Project, which will be implemented under Measure 1.5 of the FEPW, is the creation and management of the Trust Fund by the BGK, including the selection and entrusting to bodies implementing specific funds (Financial Partners – FP) the creation and management of Specific Funds in order to provide support to final recipients in the form of financial instruments: The project will be implemented in an indirect model, in accordance with Article 59(3)(c) of the General Regulation. The aim of the Project is to support the competitiveness of SMEs from the tourism and related industries and to increase the potential of tourism for the development of the economy in Eastern Poland. Specific objectives of the Project: 1.Support from financial instruments for 846 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises 2.Support for 254 new enterprises operating for less than 3 years 3.Introduction of 340 product and process innovations in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises 4.Achievement of the value of private investments complementing public support at the level of PLN 52 521 008.48 5.Creation of 286 jobs in supported enterprises 6.Support for 43 pro-ecological projects Implementation of support will stimulate the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, through the implementation of product, process, marketing or organizational innovations, including through: 1.development of the enterprise leading to the introduction of new or improved products or services on the market, 2.making fundamental changes in activity resulting in the introduction of new or improved products or services on the market, 3.investment in new equipment and equipment. Loans will be granted to SMEs carrying out initial investments in the following areas: •accommodation facilities, •catering facilities, •sports and leisure infrastructure, •health tourism infrastructure, •cultural and entertainment infrastructure, •tourism transport, •tourism organisation and tourism intermediation, •green products, •regional and traditional products,industrial design, •restoration of traditional professions – handicrafts and crafts, •other investments in the tourism-related sector consisting in expanding the offer,increasing the quality of services provided directly to tourists. The financial instrument will also support investments by companies complementary to the thematic routes supported under Priority V.Sustainable tourism of the FEPW programme and investments by start-up companies operating for up to 3 years (start-ups) for which additional preferences will be applied. Support under the project will benefit entities implementing investments in the following voivodships: Lubelskie, Podlaskie, Podkarpackie, Świętokrzyskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodships and parts of the Mazowieckie voivodship (excluding Warsaw and 9 surrounding powiats) – in the so-called Mazowieckie regional statistical region (RMR). Planning the task: 1.Project management 2.Implementation of financial instruments Project stages: 1.Conclusion of a grant agreement 2.Launch of the selection procedure for the FP 3.Selection of the FP and conclusion of operational agreements 4.Information and promotion activities 5.Launch of the loan facility market 6.Continuation of promotional activities, monitoring, control, reporting and evaluation activities The project will be implemented under Priority 1.A smarter Europe by supporting innovative and smart economic transformation CS 1(iii)Strengthening sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, including through productive investments. CST Project Manager: Maciej Grupiński,maciej.grupinski@bgk.pl OO – Final Recipients,IF – Financial Instruments,BGK – Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego,IZ – Managing Authority,UO – Operational Agreement,UI – Investment Agreement. Project co-financing is ERDF funds under measure 1.5 of the EFF and national co-financing, i.e. funds withdrawn from the PPW-Tourism.