Piauí Launches 'Acredita no Primeiro Passo' Program to Boost Small Business Support
Piauí launches a comprehensive support program combining training and credit access to empower vulnerable communities and boost small businesses.
- • The 'Acredita no Primeiro Passo' program launched to support small businesses and vulnerable populations in Piauí.
- • Program backed by government, SEBRAE, private sector, and educational institutions aiming for R$ 1 billion in resources.
- • SEBRAE invests R$ 3 million in training; Aguas de Teresina offers 374 job openings for vulnerable groups.
- • The initiative targets formalizing informal businesses and promoting economic inclusion across the state.
Key details
On January 16, 2026, Piauí launched the "Acredita no Primeiro Passo" program aimed at supporting small businesses and vulnerable populations across the state. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, SEBRAE, educational institutions, private companies, and Aegea, designed to provide professional training, entrepreneurship development, and improved access to credit for families enrolled in Cadastro Único and Bolsa Família programs.
Minister Wellington Dias highlighted the program’s goal of transforming informal small businesses into viable and sustainable enterprises. The initiative intends to mobilize up to R$ 1 billion in resources to support these efforts. SEBRAE director Júlio César Filho revealed that SEBRAE is investing around R$ 3 million in courses and training to aid participants in transitioning from social vulnerability to entrepreneurship.
In addition to training and credit access, the private sector is actively participating; Aguas de Teresina announced 374 job openings prioritizing individuals from historically vulnerable groups. Partnership protocols were signed during the program’s launch to solidify commitments to entrepreneurship training and job creation.
The overarching aim is to increase the number of formal small businesses and promote productive inclusion, enhancing income opportunities for families in vulnerable situations across all municipalities in Piauí.
This initiative reflects a growing focus on small business development in Brazil, with a nationwide surge in new enterprises, particularly in sectors like beauty, which saw an 18.5% growth in 2025 alone. However, the Piauí program distinctively targets the empowerment of low-income families through structured support and credit, combining governmental, social, and private resources for sustainable development.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
