Funding for Education and Training Centers in the Rhenish Lignite Mining Area and Northern Ruhr Area (RL AWBZ)

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Who is funded

The program targets providers of vocational and academic education institutions in specific regions of North Rhine-Westphalia. The funding supports projects that contribute to structural change and whose educational offerings are subject to the state's educational mandate and are non-discriminatory accessible.

What is funded

The program promotes investments in the infrastructure of education and training centers that serve vocational and academic education. This includes the modernization of teaching/learning spaces, energy-efficient renovations, and new constructions to adapt educational institutions to current technological and economic requirements. Expenses for boarding schools as well as outdoor facilities and traffic areas are also funded, provided they are necessary for the operation of the eligible institutions.

Type and Scope of Funding

The funding is granted as a non-repayable subsidy within the framework of project and co-financing. The subsidy amount is up to 90 percent of the total eligible expenses, whereby the total expenses must amount to at least 200,000 euros. The program runs until December 31, 2029.

Conditions and Requirements

Various conditions must be met for funding, including proof of contribution to regional structural change and needs-based planning of infrastructure investments. The funded infrastructure must primarily be used for initial vocational training, regulated vocational further training and advanced training, as well as vocational preparation, and must be non-discriminatory accessible to all interested parties.

Application Procedure

The application must be submitted before the start of the project via the EFRE.NRW.online portal or in writing to the competent district government. The review is carried out by the approving authorities, and the technical assessment by the competent state ministries.

Legal Basis

The funding program is based on the guideline for granting subsidies for the promotion of education and training centers in the Rhenish Lignite Mining Area and Northern Ruhr Area (RL AWBZ). It is supplemented by various European and state-specific regulations and guidelines that ensure financial processing and the objectives of the European cohesion policy.