Rural Structural and Village Development

This funding program is aimed at a wide range of applicants, including municipalities, non-profit and other legal entities, natural persons, partnerships, and Local Action Groups (LAGs). Funding is limited to projects in rural areas of North Rhine-Westphalia in towns or districts with up to 10,000 inhabitants. The overarching goal is the sustainable development and securing of rural areas.

The program supports a wide range of measures to improve infrastructure and quality of life in rural areas. This ranges from the design of public spaces and community facilities to the preservation of regionally typical building substance, IT solutions, and local basic services. The funding covers conceptual preliminary work, architectural and engineering services, as well as construction and ancillary construction costs, but excludes certain expenses such as legally prescribed planning work or ongoing operating costs.

Funding is provided in the form of grants or allocations as project and co-financing. The amount of the grant varies depending on the applicant and the type of measure, with financially weaker municipalities potentially receiving higher funding rates. The program is limited until the end of 2026, with a shorter deadline for small projects.

The granting of funding is subject to specific legal and financial conditions. These include compliance with de minimis aid regulations, the availability of building permits, tied-use periods for funded objects, and the exclusion of double funding. In addition, there are special requirements for prospectivity for certain applicants and the need for concepts for basic service projects.

The application process takes place within the framework of calls for proposals via an online platform at the responsible district government. Project selection is based on the discretionary power of the approving authority and may take into account ministerial priorities. For small projects, a decentralized selection is carried out by the Local Action Groups.

The funding program is based on the guideline for structural and village development in rural areas, published by the circular decree of the Ministry of Agriculture and Consumer Protection. It integrates provisions of the State Budget Code, EU de minimis regulations, and the GAK Act to ensure the legal basis and framework for funding.