Category:
City Hall inaugurates new Entrepreneurs' Room on Governador Island
Published on 10/10/2025 - 11:36 | Updated
Professional training courses for small business owners are already being held in the Entrepreneur Room - Roberto Moreyra/SMTE Entrepreneur Cleomar de Souza will gain a new ally to increase sales at Ora…Pães. On Monday (August 13th), the Entrepreneur Room will open at the Ilha do Governador Workers' Center. The Municipal Department of Labor and Income, in partnership with Sebrae-Rio, will open the new location at 2.080 Estrada do Dendê, in the Moneró neighborhood, at 9 a.m. In addition to opening and closing MEIs, it will be possible to issue DAS (Individual Income Tax Returns), make registration changes, and pay debt installments, among other services. All free of charge. Importantly, to use the services at the new Entrepreneur Room, you must schedule an appointment in advance. Appointments can be made via WhatsApp at (21) 98682-3717.
"This is the sixth room we're opening in the city. And later this month, we'll open another at the São Sebastião Administrative Center in Cidade Nova. These rooms are also offering vocational training courses in various fields, thanks to partnerships with universities and various institutions," noted Manoel Vieira, Municipal Secretary of Labor and Income.
According to Marcela Cigana, manager of the Empreenda Rio program, the Entrepreneur Rooms offer professional support for those opening a micro-business or looking to expand their business.
– In these rooms, small business owners can also exchange experiences with other entrepreneurs and form a support and service promotion network.
Currently, there are over 1,1 million MEIs in the state of Rio. According to Sebrae-Rio, there are 480,3 in the capital alone. According to Rafael Souza, director of the Ilha Workers' Center, the Entrepreneurs' Room was operating on an experimental basis. Some courses in business and financial management and communication, among others, were offered there in partnership with Estácio de Sá University and other institutions.
Six Entrepreneur Rooms in the city
In addition to Ilha, there are five other Entrepreneur Rooms operating in the city: two in downtown Rio, one in São Cristóvão, one in Santa Cruz, and another in Campo Grande. In May, rooms were opened at CIAD (Presidente Vargas Avenue, 1.997), UDES (Republic Square, 139, Campo de Santana), and the Santa Cruz Workers' Central (Lopes Moura Street, 58). In June, the Entrepreneur Room was opened in São Cristóvão (Campo de São Cristóvão, no number). In August, the Campo Grande unit was opened (Coxilha Street, s/n).
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cleomar de Souza's salary as manager of a custom furniture store in Recreio was reduced. He then decided to bake artisan breads to supplement the family income. That year, Ora…Pães was born.
"In 2023, I decided to focus solely on bread. I became a sole proprietorship microentrepreneur and took several courses at the Ilha Workers' Center, thanks to my son Arthur's recommendation. They've been providing us with all the support we need to grow. With the help of the Center's employees, I was able to regularize my MEI (Individual Microentrepreneur) status and take free management and social media courses. I practically became a partner there," jokes the 52-year-old entrepreneur, divorced, mother of two, and resident of Ilha.
For dance teacher and choreographer Leandro Azevedo, three-time winner of Dança dos Famosos, the opening of the Entrepreneur Room is a fantastic initiative, as it will support those who dream of having or already have their own business.
"When I started and opened my dance school in 2009, I didn't have that kind of support. I had to hustle, get an MBA in Marketing, to manage and promote Espaço Leandro Azevedo here on the island. Now, I've been sending several of my students to the Workers' Center, whether for courses, to open a small business (MEI), or to ask questions about entrepreneurship."
Service:
Governor's Island Entrepreneur's Room
Opening: 13/10
Time: 9h
Location: Island Workers' Center
End: Estrada do Dendê, 2.080, Moneró neighborhood
