The city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province has announced that it has been providing 41.9-million yuan ($6.76 million) in funds to encourage entrepreneurs in the first half of this year, local human resources and social security authorities report, noting that it began the business loan program by providing anywhere from 100,000 yuan to two million for small, labor-intensive enterprises.

Participating enterprises can apply for a loan of 100,000 yuan per person, and up to 700,000 yuan in total. The program is also set up to help all kinds of start-ups, for example for the urban jobless, retired soldiers, dependents of active-duty soldiers, disabled people, college students, former migrant workers, returning overseas Chinese students, rural women, scientists, and technicians.

Harbin authorities say that a loan application can be handled in 15 working days.