URBAN is a European Union program for the economic and social development of urban neighbourhoods in Europe.

In the Strasbourg area, the URBAN program pays particular attention to supporting the setting up and development of businesses.

This specifically means supporting:

1. Material investment in small- and medium-sized businesses and industries and personal supervised work, including investments in the environmental field;

2. Immaterial investment in small- and medium-sized businesses and industries and personal supervised work. The subsidy may take the form of consultancy assistance and assistance in recruiting high level executives for new functions in the company, particularly for production, commercial and export functions;

3. Technological development projects for small- and medium-sized businesses. These activities will add particular impetus to the transfer of technology though consultancy, development programss connected with research, and partnerships with research centres and major companies;

4. Investment in real estate for small- and medium-sized businesses and industries and personal supervised work. The investment may be borne directly by the business, a leasing company or an intermediary organisation. Joint investments (shared services) in several companies may receive subsidies.

Depending on the nature of the project, the amount of the European Union subsidy may vary between 7.5% and 15% of the total cost of the investment.

Criteria:

1. Be an independent small- or medium-sized company;
2. Be up to date with one's tax and welfare payments;
3. Have a job creation project;
4. Mobilise a nationwide public return on one's project.

The URBAN program concentrates on the southern neighbourhoods in the city of Strasbourg, i.e. La Meinau, Neuhof and Port-du-Rhin.

Downloadable map of the URBAN perimeter:
Carte du_perimetre_URBAN.pdf (362 ko)

For more detailed information on the URBAN II program and the activities of the European Union to promote sustainable urban development, please consult:

The regional policy site of the European Commission:
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/urban2/index
_fr.htm

The site of the Urban France network:
http://www.urban-france.org

The City of Strasbourg site (download the subsidy request dossier):
http://www.strasbourg.fr/Strasbourgfr/FR/VivreLaVille/
GrandsProjets/URBAN2/  

Olivier BAGARRI
URBAN II Program Manager
URBAN Technical Secretariat
Urban Development Directorate
Communauté Urbaine de Strasbourg
1, Parc de l'Etoile
67076 Strasbourg
Tel.: + 33 (0)3 88 60 98 55
Fax: +33 (0)3 88 60 97 56
E-mail: olivier.bagarri@cus-strasbourg.net