MetLife Foundation Tohoku Relief Fund Celebrates First Year Anniversary

Tokyo, March 6, 2017 /3BL Media/ – MetLife Insurance K.K. (“MetLife Japan”), MetLife Foundation, Abukuma Shinkin Bank and Positive Planet Japan are pleased to announce the grantees of the MetLife Foundation Tohoku Relief Fund (hereinafter referred to as the “Fund”), as well as the progress made through its grant-making activities as the Fund celebrates its 1st year anniversary.

The Fund’s goal is to support the economic recovery and revitalization of disaster-stricken local communities including Fukushima Prefecture’s Minami-Soma area*, which suffered major damage due to the tsunami and nuclear accident resulting from the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011.

At the third award ceremony held on March 3, 2017 at Abukuma Shinkin Bank, a total of 12 local entrepreneurs and business owners received grants. Of the recipients, 7 received seed funding for startups, 4 received grants for business development assistance and 1 received an interest subsidy grant. At the ceremony, Masato Irie, Manager of the Koriyama Agency Office delivered a speech on behalf of MetLife Japan, and MetLife Japan associates from sales offices in the Tohoku region visited the Fund’s grantees in the field.

Since its launch, the Fund has provided 39 grants in total, including seed funding for 17 startups, 10 grants for business development assistance, and 12 interest subsidy grants. 27 of these grants were provided in 2016.

Several grantees have seen sales grow and the number of regular customers steadily increase in their local communities, and they aim to expand further their business activities. As the 6th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake approaches, the recovery efforts in Fukushima are entering a new phase. Together with the MetLife Foundation, MetLife Japan which aims to be a new type of insurance company and a trusted partner for its customers, will continue to support the recovery efforts of the affected communities through the Fund.

* Areas of operation of Aubukuma Shinkin Bank within Fukushima and Miyagi Prefecture.