An entrepreneur in Nantong’s Tongzhou district shows off her business license. [Photo/zgnt.net]

Tongzhou district in Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province, has ramped up financial support for entrepreneurs in the district.

People who are full-time college students or graduates, unemployed or have difficulty finding jobs can apply for government subsidies and interest-free loans to start a business in the district.

This year, Tongzhou has provided subsidies worth 46,000 yuan ($6,710) for seven such entrepreneurs thus far, and has issued 236 loans valued at 35.31 million yuan, benefiting 3,508 people.

The upper limit of the start-up loan provided by the district has increased from the original 120,000 yuan to 150,000 yuan, with the interest exemption period being extended from two years to three.

In addition to financial support, Tongzhou has provided services related to entrepreneurship based on three provincial business incubating bases in the district.

As of the beginning of this month, Tongzhou had helped 2,672 people including 330 college graduates and 1,755 farmers start businesses.