Fördermöglichkeiten zur Sicherung der Nahversorgung in ländlichen Räumen

The following working paper is a deliverable of the project “Dynamics of local supply in rural areas”. The paper focuses on funding programmes in Germany in the context of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). Particular consideration is paid to the current funding directives on national and state level in the current period from 2014 to 2020. In addition, initiatives from Austria at the county-level, which aim for an improvement of local supplies, are presented. A detailed overview over existing programmes, strategies and approaches are the core of this paper. An extensive literature review, the evaluation of databases and the analysis of documents are the methodological foundation for this working paper. Furthermore, results from conferences and further enquiries to experts for funding are incorporated. The following working paper is a deliverable of the project “Dynamics of local supply in rural areas”. The paper focuses on funding programmes in Germany in the context of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). Particular consideration is paid to the current funding directives on national and state level in the current period from 2014 to 2020. In addition, initiatives from Austria at the county-level, which aim for an improvement of local supplies, are presented. A detailed overview over existing programmes, strategies and approaches are the core of this paper. An extensive literature review, the evaluation of databases and the analysis of documents are the methodological foundation for this working paper. Furthermore, results from conferences and further enquiries to experts for funding are incorporated.Compared to the previous funding period (2007-2013) several aspects were given increased consideration. For example, consulting in the preliminary stage, situation analysis at the designated location (local needs), proof of economic viability and public participation during the conceptualisation, have frequently become a prerequisite. Moreover, subsidies for mobile services are frequently and explicitly mentioned as eligible. Common objects of support are investment subsidies for construction measures and material assets, but also consulting and/or engineering services that are related to the projects. In some federal states the property acquisition as well as the purchase of buildings, the equipping and/or reconstruction works, can be subsidised. Apart from that, some federal states provide consulting services of both existing and planned village shops. In case of economic constraints or difficulties, some state banks and guarantee banks provide aid. Examples of funding instruments from Austria that do not exist in this form in Germany broaden the content of this report. This includes operating grants for small-scale suppliers (food-stores up to a maximum of 400m² sales area), grants for home-delivery services and digital means of communication for the enhancement of the customer base.