site.btaVarna Triples Its Number of Social Enterprises in One Year, Setting a National Example

The number of social enterprises in Varna has tripled over the past year, reaching 30 registered businesses, with one more currently in the process of registration, according to the Regional Centre for Social Economy Development in Northeastern Bulgaria. In comparison, Sofia also has 31 social enterprises, while Plovdiv and Burgas each have 20.

Social enterprises – businesses with a mission, are officially recognized entities that employ individuals from twelve vulnerable groups defined by law. These include people with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, individuals recovering from addiction, former prisoners, victims of trafficking and violence, the homeless, and refugees, among others.

One of the key drivers behind the growth of mission-driven businesses in Varna is the municipal fund created specifically to support social enterprises. Launched in February 2024 with a budget of BGN 150,000, the fund marked a turning point – at the time, only 13 social enterprises were registered in the city. Ten of them were approved for funding, receiving a total of just over BGN 130,000.

The Regional Centre emphasized that Varna’s fund for supporting social enterprises is the only one of its kind in Bulgaria. This unique model has earned a place in the Good Practices collection published by the Institute of Public Administration.