New directive simplifies funding in rural areas

Rural development initiatives are to have less effort when applying for funding thanks to a revised guideline. Regulations on proof of use would be simplified, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Rural Development announced following the cabinet's approval. For example, municipal and civic initiatives would no longer have to submit invoices when applying for certain funding.

"As a result, the directive once again supports people in villages and small towns in the countryside so that they can actively shape their home," said State Development Minister Regina Kraushaar (CDU).

Funding for rural development

The simplifications apply, for example, to the "Vital Village Centers" and "Regional Budgets" programs for rural development. Since 2016, the "Vital Village Centers" programme has been funding projects that aim to contribute to equal living conditions in villages and small towns. These include newly designed leisure facilities as well as renovated event and community spaces. The "regional budgets" have been used to support small projects since 2019.

The directive also includes the funding area of rural reorganization, also known as land consolidation. This clarifies the ownership structure of land and reorganizes it if necessary, thus enabling projects for flood protection or the construction of new paths in rural areas, for example.