Aracaju Boosts Small Businesses with New Tech-Driven Entrepreneurship Program and National Debt Relief Plans
Aracaju unveils a digital platform to empower microentrepreneurs, alongside federal plans to renew debt renegotiation programs for small businesses nationwide.
- • Aracaju launches Programa Empreende+ offering free digital management tools for microentrepreneurs.
- • The program supports MEIs with financial control, customer and supplier management, and educational content.
- • Mayor Emília Corrêa highlights the city's commitment to valuing and supporting local entrepreneurs.
- • The federal Desenrola Pequenos Negócios program, successful in renegotiating R$7.5 billion debts for over 120,000 companies, prepares a new phase for 2026.
- • The new debt renegotiation initiative awaits approval and aims to further support small businesses financially.
Key details
The municipal government of Aracaju has launched Programa Aracaju Empreende+, a new digital initiative designed to empower microentrepreneurs (MEIs) through technology and improved business management tools. Officially introduced by Mayor Emília Corrêa on October 15, the free platform was developed with ServeMEI Tecnologia LTDA and supported by Sebrae. It offers MEIs registered with the local Sala do Empreendedor access to simplified financial controls, customer and supplier management, invoice issuance, and educational resources such as workshops and training pathways.
Mayor Corrêa emphasized that this program reflects a city committed to valuing entrepreneurs and workers as drivers of the local economy. According to Economic Development Secretary Dilermando Júnior, the platform aims to reduce informality and allow better financial oversight among microentrepreneurs, noting that many MEIs face delinquency, which hinders growth opportunities. The initiative will also generate strategic data to inform municipal economic decisions. CEO Luciano Maynard of ServeMEI highlighted that half of Aracaju’s businesses are microentrepreneurs, underscoring the platform's vital role in strengthening this sector.
Alongside Aracaju's local efforts, the federal Ministry of Entrepreneurship is preparing a new phase of the Desenrola Pequenos Negócios program for 2026. This national initiative aims to renegotiate debts for micro, small businesses, and MEIs earning up to R$4.8 million annually, following a successful prior phase that concluded on December 31, 2024. The earlier effort renegotiated R$7.5 billion in debts, benefiting over 120,000 companies with discounts ranging from 20% to 95%, supported by tax incentives for banks. The proposal for the next phase is awaiting approval from the National Treasury, PGFN, and the Civil House, aligning with election laws for an early 2026 launch.
Together, these local and federal programs represent a coordinated push to strengthen small business resilience and economic stability through technology, education, and financial restructuring, crucial for fostering job creation and income generation in Aracaju and across Brazil.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
