Since 2016, Yunneng Wind Power Co., Ltd. has been preparing to build the Yunlin Offshore Wind Farm (OWF) 8 kilometers offshore of Yunlin. Over the years, it has worked with Yunlin’s coastal communities to strengthen local ties. As a result of Yunlin County’s aging population, which has gotten worse in recent years, a number of community long-term care issues have emerged. In order to encourage young people to return to their hometown, Yunneng Wind Power Co., Ltd. has donated NT$100 million to Yunlin County in order to assist in the establishment of the “Yunlin County Youth Start-up Grant Program,” with the goal of attracting young people to return to their hometown and pursue their start-up dreams by providing an excellent start-up environment. In turn, the ongoing issue of population outflow in Yunlin County can be resolved, which will improve Yunlin’s economic development.
The “Yunlin County Youth Start-up Grant Program” co-founded by the Yunlin County Government and Yunneng Wind Power, will be open for applications. On July 26th, the county government held a “Publicity Press Conference for the Launch of Yunlin County Youth Start-up Grant.” The grand undertaking was attended by Chairman Yuni Wang of Yunneng Wind Power Co., Ltd., Executive Director Axel Limberg of the German Trade Office, President Yang Neng-Shu of the National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, President Chang Hsin-Liang of the National Formosa University, President Shen Chien-Hua of TransWorld University, and representatives from SMEs, industrial, commercial, and agricultural sectors.
At the press conference, the Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-Shan specially presented a trophy to Yunneng Wind Power Co., Ltd. in appreciation of its support of youth entrepreneurship in Yunlin. She expressed gratitude for Yunneng’s donation of NT$100 million for the Yunlin County youth as a start-up grant, which will be open to applications from young people who wish to start their own businesses. In addition to financial assistance, the county government collaborates with the county’s three science and technology universities to provide assistance and counseling during the start-up process, increasing young people’s chances of success as entrepreneurs.
Yuni Wang recalled working with the County government on the “Youth Start-up Grant,” stating, Yunneng Wind Power Co., Ltd. has been planning an offshore wind farm (OWF) in Yunlin since 2016. Yunlin has encountered serious population outflow and aging issues during contacts with coastal towns and townships. Therefore, when County Magistrate Chang proposed the youth start-up grant idea, Yunneng Wind Power Co., Ltd. immediately resolved to respond positively. Hopefully, through financial assistance, young people’s start-up determination and confidence will be aroused, thereby achieving the wonderful result of attracting more young people from Yunlin to return to or remain in their hometown. As a result, when County Magistrate Chang proposed the youth start-up grant idea, Yunneng Wind Power Co., Ltd. responded positively right away. Hopefully, financial assistance will arouse young people’s start-up determination and confidence, achieving the wonderful result of attracting more young people from Yunlin to return to or remain in their hometown.
Axel Limberg stated that Yunneng Wind Power Co., Ltd. plans to set up 80 wind power generators in Yunlin after witnessing foreign businesses’ long-term investments and feedback on Taiwan’s local development. The current “Yunlin County Government Youth Start-up Grant Program,” which was co-founded by Yunneng Wind Power Co., Ltd. and Yunlin County Government, is an excellent example of community development promotion. He went on to say that foreign enterprises not only provide financial assistance, but also constructive technical transfer and demand-driven assistance. As the official representative of the German Trade Office in Taipei, we are confident that this collaboration will serve as a model for future bilateral collaboration.
According to the Yunlin County Labor Affairs Department, the Yunlin Youth Start-up Grant is divided into two types: “micro-startup type” and “project type,” with maximum subsidies of NT$300,000 and NT$2,000,000, respectively. Applications will be accepted from August 1st, 2022 to September 30th, 2022. Following that, the county government will hold tour briefings on the youth start-up grants in each town, township, and city to help more young people understand the grant application process and related provisions.
