Evaluating Local Government Empowerment Programs for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Promoting Local Economic Growth: A Case Study of Garut Regency, Indonesia

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are a crucial pillar of local economic development in Indonesia, including in Garut Regency, which hosts over 178,000 business units. The local government has implemented various empowerment programs covering training, business legalization, product promotion, and digitalization. However, the effectiveness of these programs remains insufficiently measured. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of MSME empowerment programs by the Garut Regency Government in promoting local economic growth. A qualitative descriptive method was employed, utilizing secondary data from the Office of Cooperatives and MSMEs, the 2024 Business Identification Number (NIB) data, and the Integrated Data Information System (SIDT) of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs. The evaluation framework is based on Dunn’s (2018) five dimensions of public policy: effectiveness, efficiency, adequacy, responsiveness, and appropriateness. The findings reveal that despite administrative progress, the programs have not yet reached all MSME actors evenly, especially micro-enterprises in rural areas. Weak inter-agency coordination, limited data availability, and low community involvement are key challenges. A more integrated, locally-driven, and participatory approach is required to ensure these empowerment programs produce tangible and sustainable impacts on inclusive local economic growth.