For decades, the city of Yaita in Tochigi Prefecture has served as a production hub for Sharp Corp. Now it's pitching in to boost the struggling company's fortunes by helping residents buy its higher-end products.
The city announced a range of grants on Tuesday that are worth as much as ¥100,000. For example, it will cover 30 percent of the price of a TV that has been assembled in the city if it's purchased at a small retailer in Yaita, a local trade official said. Consumers can also buy non-TV products for smaller subsidies.
"We would like to help boost the company's sales. For 40 years it contributed to the local economy," the official said.
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