09.25.2024
CTG Brasil, one of the leaders in clean energy generation in the country and concessionaire of eight hydropower plants on the Paranapanema River, in partnership with Instituto Meio, celebrated in Chavantes (São Paulo) the success of the Usina de Negócios program. The program’s closing event marked the conclusion of a journey dedicated to strengthening tourism and fostering local development in the region of the Chavantes Hydropower Plant, known as Angra Doce.
“Strengthening initiatives that promote entrepreneurship and income generation in the regions where CTG Brasil operates is a fundamental part of our social investment strategy. The success of the Usina de Negócios program reaffirms our commitment to sustainable development and to creating a positive impact in communities. The results of this first initiative in Chavantes demonstrate the potential of tourism in the region and the transformative power of well-targeted projects,” said Ronan Max Prochnow, Sustainability & ESG Manager at CTG Brasil.
Launched in May of last year, the Usina de Negócios program, created by CTG Brasil and implemented by Instituto Meio, aimed to stimulate tourism and foster the development of local communities, beginning with a Territorial Diagnosis to understand the tourism landscape of the municipalities involved.
In August of the same year, a public call was launched in the 15 municipalities within the area of influence of the Chavantes Hydropower Plant reservoir, seeking proposals related to the development of tourism products and services, specialized workforce, communication, and access infrastructure.
The submitted ventures were evaluated according to criteria such as technical and financial feasibility, potential impact, number of people directly benefited, scope of operations, and entrepreneurial potential. Four businesses were selected and received a total investment of R$162,000. They were: EcoBikeTrack, from Ribeirão Claro (Paraná); Camping Pedrinha and Yacy Ecoturismo, from Piraju (São Paulo); and Santa Fé Lazer e Conhecimento, from Itaporanga (São Paulo).
In February 2024, two strategic planning workshops were held, resulting in the creation of individualized action plans focused on strengthening businesses and promoting the local tourism value chain. The investments (R$40,500 per business) were allocated to improvements in communication, infrastructure, equipment, and the development of new tourism products.
Among the results achieved are the creation of two new websites, four promotional videos, three new attractions and tourist routes, and the opening of a new aquatic tourism market with the introduction of kayaks.
According to Lars Diederichsen, founder of Instituto Meio, the four participating businesses reported an average revenue growth of 60% between February and August 2024, compared to the average revenue reported in 2023, demonstrating the positive impact of the improvements. With the conclusion of the project, the expectation is that tourism in Angra Doce will continue to grow and generate significant benefits for the region in the coming year.
“These businesses are now prepared to reap the benefits of the improvements implemented, contributing to strengthening the tourism value chain in Angra Doce and promoting a collaborative network. The positive impact on revenues is expected to be even more significant next year, encompassing the new tourism cycle,” stated the founder of Instituto Meio.
