116 Participants in 12 Business Units
Annual Sales Exceed 600 Million KRW
The opening ceremony of the first-floor 'Cafe Jahwal' at the Taean Community Self-Sufficiency Center building held in September last year. /Taean County
Taean Regional Self-Sufficiency Center, established by Taean County in Chungnam in 2004, has become a 'local job incubator' by supporting the self-sufficiency and independence of low-income residents.
According to Taean County, the Taean Regional Self-Sufficiency Center is currently operated by the Salvation Army Property Foundation under commission. As of the end of last year, 116 low-income individuals participated in self-sufficiency projects across 12 business units, generating annual sales of over 600 million KRW.
Specifically, the center operates various businesses in the Taean-eup area, including cafes, restaurants, helper services (dispatching housekeepers), side jobs (such as assembling toys), home food services (delivery and sale of soup and side dishes), nurungji snack production and sales, cleaning services (move-in cleaning, daily building management, disinfection and pest control), and delivery services.
The center is not satisfied with simple operation and is striving to increase sales by signing agreements with other organizations and expanding its supply channels to meet consumer expectations.
Additionally, the center offers a gateway course to train residents who are participating in self-sufficiency projects for the first time, helping to lower the entry barrier for participation.
One participant in the self-sufficiency project said, "I feel a small sense of fulfillment in the process of having a job and meeting local residents," and added, "I plan to continue working hard here so that I can stand tall as a proud member of a healthy local community."
The county plans to continue its efforts to support the stability of low-income residents by using net profits (excluding material costs, etc.) for motivating participants, providing education, supporting asset formation, and offering cash incentives to create a foundation for self-sufficiency and independence.
A county official stated, "Recently, we have been discovering at least one new business unit each year, leading the way in expanding job opportunities for low-income residents," and added, "We will continue to encourage and support the Taean Regional Self-Sufficiency Center so that it can provide broader and more detailed opportunities for self-sufficiency and independence for low-income residents."
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