Kitakyushu City's SME Talent Securing Support Subsidy: For Groups, Up to JPY 400,000The city helps groups of companies that want to find workers
Kitakyushu City accepts applications on a rolling basis from April 1, 2026, until the budget runs out or February 26, 2027 at the latest, for the FY2026 SME Talent Securing Support Subsidy. It supports groups of small and medium-sized businesses (cooperatives, incorporated associations, informal industry groups and so on) that work to secure talent. The subsidy is up to one-half of eligible costs with a cap of JPY 400,000.
- April 1, 2026Applications open; project period begins
- February 26, 2027Application deadline (ends early if the budget runs out)
- March 31, 2027Project period ends
Key points
- Eligible: SME groups with an office in the city. At least three-quarters of members must be SMEs and at least three-quarters of those must be in the city. The group needs no unpaid city taxes, bylaws, and proper budgets and accounts
- Eligible projects aim to secure talent, such as industry promotion for students, student-teacher exchange events, and internal workplace improvement programs. The project period is April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027
- Eligible costs include fees for lecturers and consultants, travel for invited experts and recruiting, rental of venues and equipment, outsourced work, student injury insurance, and materials and printing. Consumption tax, transfer fees and fees for lecturers from within the group are excluded
- Subsidy rate: up to one-half of eligible costs, cap JPY 400,000 (fractions under JPY 1,000 dropped)
- Accepted on a rolling basis from April 1, 2026 until the budget runs out or February 26, 2027, whichever comes first
What to do in practice
- Check that the share of SMEs and of city businesses among your members meets the requirements
- Narrow down to plans that can be carried out within the project period (to March 31, 2027) and get cost quotes
- Confirm in advance with your advisers how the subsidy is treated for accounting and tax
When one company alone has trouble finding people, a group of companies in the same line of work may hold events that introduce jobs to students. Kitakyushu City helps pay up to half of the cost, at most JPY 400,000.
- ○Applies: A group of companies applies
- ○Applies: The aim is to secure talent, such as industry promotion for students or workplace improvement
- ×Does not apply: One company alone applies
- ×Does not apply: The project runs past March 31, 2027
Points
- A group of companies applies, not one company
- Introducing jobs to students and exchanges between teachers and companies are covered
- Up to half of the cost, at most JPY 400,000
What the words mean
- SME group
- A cooperative or association formed by small and medium-sized businesses in the same area or line of work
- Subsidy (jyoseikin)
- Money you can receive from the city if you meet the conditions
- City of Kitakyushu: Kitakyushu City: SME Talent Securing Support Subsidy
This article summarizes and explains materials published by government agencies and is not advice on any individual case. Rules can change, so for actual procedures and decisions always check the latest original materials and consult professionals such as tax accountants or labor and social security attorneys. English, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese versions are translations prepared from the Japanese articles for convenience. If anything differs, the Japanese text and the original source take precedence.