TOKYO, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare plans to provide incentives up to $5.5 million to winning municipalities in a job creation contest next year.
Starting in 2005, the ministry will hold an annual competition where regional governments will vie to come up with the most effective job producing programs, Asahi Shimbun reported Tuesday.
It is one way to finish the uniform subsidies nationwide, which have been criticized as wasteful.
Each project, if selected by a ministry panel, will receive subsidies worth up to $1.8 million per year, for up to 3 years if needed. A total of $65 million has been earmarked for the project.
The ministry also plans to support entrepreneurs at the local level, with $9 million in subsidies.
