Urban development with ERDF and ESF funds
City and EU support measures - small companies also benefit from funding opportunities
The Free State of Saxony has announced the programmes for sustainable urban development for 2015 to 2020 from the Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). The funding is intended to support disadvantaged urban neighbourhoods in implementing targeted measures in selected areas to solve urban development, economic, ecological and social problems.
The City of Chemnitz would like to use these funding opportunities for a large number of measures in the new "ERDF area" and in the "ESF area city centre" as well as in the "ESF area south" (for ERDF and ESF areas, see attached map 1).
The neighbourhoods to be supported were selected, an integrated action plan developed and specific projects proposed with the participation of many stakeholders in the city districts, the specialist departments and representatives of the business community.
The city and the EU want to promote integrated measures in the areas in several fields of action by 2020, e.g.
- in climate protection to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO² pollution,
- through new green structures and to reduce vehicle traffic in urban areas,
- to improve the environmental situation through the reutilisation of inner-city brownfield sites,
- to strengthen the local economy in the neighbourhoods, especially small businesses and the cultural and creative industries,
- for better education for children and young people
- for civic education and lifelong learning
- for better social inclusion and integration of residents into employment
- to strengthen the infrastructure and living environment in the neighbourhoods
Following the city council's decision, the city will submit funding applications to the Free State of Saxony for the new subsidised areas. As soon as the city receives the general approval notice in autumn, the projects can be prepared for implementation. The Urban Planning Office, Urban Regeneration Department, has taken on the coordination for this. All project organisers will find their contact persons there. You can get in touch with the head of department at the urban planning office, Grit Stillger, by calling 4886031 or sending an email to grit.stillger@stadt-chemnitz.de.
Funding for small businesses (KU) from the ERDF
One focus in the "Neighbourhood economy" field of action will once again be on supporting investments by small companies (up to 49 employees), particularly in the cultural and creative industries. This special assistance has already proved its worth in the last two funding periods. Numerous companies were able to receive pro rata grants to improve their local conditions or to relocate there and create jobs. This should also be possible in the new "ERDF area" until 2020. To this end, the City Council hasadopted the new "City of Chemnitz Guidelines on the Granting of Grants to Small Companies" (KU Guidelines Chemnitz). As soon as the Free State of Saxony approves this, the city will be able to grant pro rata subsidies to small companies in the ERDF area from 2015 (for KU funding in the area, see attached map 2).
The funding rate amounts to a maximum of 40 per cent of the eligible costs and a maximum of EUR 25,000 per company. 80 per cent of the grants to the KU are covered by ERDF financial assistance and 20 per cent by the city's own funds. The grants must be applied for in good time and the planned investment must be described in detail before the start. This requires some preparation in order to be able to receive grants as early as 2015. The city therefore recommends that small companies seek advice and submit applications immediately.
Chemnitzer Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (CWE) will provide advice on funding through KU grants on behalf of the city. Application forms and further information are available there for interested companies or start-ups.
Interested parties should contact the
Chemnitzer Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (CWE)
Innere Klosterstraße 6-8
09111 Chemnitz
Gert Klaus, call 0371/3660243, klaus(at)cwe-chemnitz.de
Sebastian Michaelis, call 0371/3660240, michaelis@cwe-chemnitz.de.
Information, the funding guidelines and application documents will be available shortly at www.cwe-chemnitz.de.
For companies or freelancers in the cultural and creative industries, the city will also appoint a district business manager in the ESF city centre area, who will also provide advice and networking for this sector in the interests of district development. The neighbourhood business manager can also help to find suitable areas and spaces or to make the products and services of creative professionals better known. The "Kreatives Chemnitz" association will be involved in this.
Attachments to this press release:
Legend map 1
The planned ERDF and ESF funding areas in Chemnitz
green ERDF area
yellow ESF city centre area
orange area ESF South
Legend Map 2
KU funding in the ERDF area in Chemnitz within the area outlined in green