Subsidy Scheme of the Impulse Policy for the Improvement of the Inner City, District Centre Areas, and Radials 2024 – 2026
Article 1 Stipulation of the Definitions
In this subsidy scheme, the following terms are understood to mean:
• commercial services: the professional or business provision of services, where the public is directly addressed and assisted;
• cultural sector: types of business where art and culture are produced, presented, published, consumed, and conserved;
• creative sector: types of business which are focused on the exploitation of creativity and intellectual property;
• retail: the business of offering goods for sale, including displaying them for sale, selling, letting, and delivering goods to individuals who buy or rent for use or consumption other than in a professional or business activity;
• hospitality: the business or acting as if conducting business by providing accommodation, serving drinks, or preparing or serving food for immediate consumption;
• social services: the provision of services in the medical, social, educational, cultural, or administrative sector, and other forms of services that have a more or less public character;
• small entrepreneur business: a natural or legal entity with a starting business or a business with a maximum of one branch within the same formula;
• franchisee: an independent entrepreneur who has a close cooperation agreement with a chain organization;
• Placemaking: (temporary) activities by entrepreneurs that contribute to the new identity in the area like pop-up stores, events and public space design;
• Centre area: Area which is indicated as inner city, district centre (small or large) or radial in the retail policy;
• Conceptual rental agreement: a preliminary agreement between landlord and tenant that describes the most important conditions for renting a property, such as the duration of the agreement and the amount of ren;
• Transformation locations: centre area in which redevelopment is scheduled, these are solely Kruisstraat and Woenselse Markt, Kastelenplein and WoensXL.
Article 2 Purpose and target groups
This subsidy scheme aims to encourage the desired transformation and restructuring of the areas mentioned in Article 3, sub a, b and c, of this subsidy scheme. It is intended for small entrepreneurs in retail, hospitality, commercial services, social services, the cultural sector, or the creative sector, with a business concept that, in the opinion of the Concept Advisory Committee referred to in Article 8, is sufficiently distinctive from the existing offerings in the designated areas. This adds value and a stimulus to the attractiveness of these areas. In specific transformation locations there is an additional opportunity to subsidize temporary activities concerning placemaking.
Article 3 Activities that are to be subsidized
1. A one-time subsidy under this scheme can only be granted for establishing a new business in retail, hospitality, commercial services, social services, the cultural sector, or the creative sector within the limits(plinth) of the designated areas listed in the annex:
a. inner City;
b. Centre areas and radials: Aalsterweg, Boulevard Zuid, Blixembosch, Cassandraplein, Franz Leharplein, Geldropseweg, Haagdijk, Hoogstraat, Kastelenplein, Kruisstraat en Woenselse Markt, Leenderweg, Terminal M Meerhoven, Nederlandplein, Sint Trudoplein, Strijp–S, Vaartbroek and WoensXL.
2. A one -time subsidy for temporary activities concerning retail, culture hospitality, creative sector and social services, limited to the inner city and transformation locations.
3. If new retail policy is established, this subsidy scheme will follow the division of centre areas as described.
Article 4 Subsidy Applicant
1. A one-time subsidy as mentioned in article 3.1 is available to small entrepreneurs as defined in Article 1.
2. Chain organizations operating two or more outlets under the same name or formula, or small entrepreneurs in a close cooperation with a chain organization/franchisee, are not eligible for the subsidy.
3. A one-time subsidy as mentioned in article 3.2 is available for:
a. small entrepreneur
b. collective of small entrepreneurs
Article 5 Subsidy Requirements
1. New enterprises as defined in article 3.1
a. the (concept) rental agreement concerns a ground floor location, referred to as the plinth, within the areas mentioned in Article 3 paragraph 1 sub a and b, and is commenced after this subsidy scheme came to force ;
b. the concept of the enterprise will not be changed significantly compared to the concept that was judged by the Concept Advisory Committee (Article 8).
c. the entrepreneur and application of the subsidy has the intention to exploit the enterprise for a duration that is at least the period of the (conceptual) rental agreementthe annual amount of rent must be clearly stated in the (conceptual) rental agreement;
d. the business plan shows that the small entrepreneur intends to operate the proposed business;
e. in the opinion of the Concept Advisory Committee, the small entrepreneur's business concept contributes to the attractiveness of the area and is sufficiently distinctive from other businesses in the area, providing it adds value / stimulus to the attractiveness of the area;
f. As far as permits or approvals for establishing the business are required, these have been obtained, and a copy is included in the application;
g. the business complies to the current zoning plan;
h. the business is established and starts operating within six months of receiving the subsidy;
i. the business concept aligns with and contributes to the frameworks of the municipality's current retail policy," the hospitality policy plan ," and the objectives formulated in the area visions and development frameworks. When new policy is established, this becomes the new framework for judgement by the Concept Advisory Committee.
2. Temporary activities as defined in article 3.2
a. The activity takes place in a transformation location or the inner city and the duration of the activity is at least one month to a maximum of one year after this subsidy scheme became into force.
b. The activity is on a ground floor location or in the public space.
c. The activity, by judgement of the municipality of Eindhoven, contributes to the prospective vision and policy.
d. The activity complies with the current zoning plan at the time of applying, the APV and requiring permits must be realistically feasible.
e. A feasible and realistic description of the activities and budget must be provided.
f. Applicant must apply for subsidy before the start of the temporary activity.
g. the temporary activity starts maximum 3 months after allocation of the subsidy and/or obtaining the required permits.
Article 6 Subsidy Amount and Payment
1. New enterprises as defined in article 3.1
The maximum subsidy amount granted is
a. 50% of the annual rent in case the rental agreement is 1 year
b. in case of a rental agreement for a minimum of two years 50% of the annual rent in the first year of operation and 25% in the second year,
c. maximum € 35.000 per application.
2. The starting date of the lease agreement is considered to be the start of the first operational year. The subsidy is based on the rent of the first two years of exploitation and is calculated on the basis of the rent payment in the rental contract at the start of the enterprise.
3. The subsidy is paid in two installments, in case of a one year rental contract there is one installment
4. If the subsidy is awarded based on a concept rental agreement, a signed rental agreement needs to be provided within two months after the approval, after which the subsidy is granted.
5. If the full subsidy cannot be granted due to budget exhaustion, the subsidy application will be fully or partially rejected.
6. Subsidy is not provided for wage costs and other business operations
2. Temporary activities as defined in article 3.2
1. The maximum subsidy amount is 50% of the costs, with a maximum of € 10.000,-
2. Subsidy pay-out is in one installment.
3. Subsidy is not provided for wage costs and other business operations.
Article 7 Subsidy Limit and Distribution of the Subsidy
1. The annual subsidy limit, for the period from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026 is:
a. € 111.000 for the inner city (as described in Article 4 a.);
b. € 411.000 for district centre areas (as described in Article 4 b., c.);
c. an additional amount of € 97.000 is available for district centre areas in 2024.
2. If subsidy limit is not reached in 2024 and/or 2025, these amounts are added to the subsidy limits for 2025 and/or 2026.
3. Granting subsidy takes place in order of receiving the complete applications until the subsidy limits are reached or the date of 31 December 2026 has passed.
4. If the applicant has had the opportunity to submit a revised version of a previously incomplete application, based article 4.5 of the “Algemene Wet Bestuursrecht”, the date when the final and complete application was received is applicable.
5. If the subsidy limit that was agreed on threatens to be exceeded or is exceeded as a result of the number of complete applications received on the same day, these applications will be dealt with in the order of their arrival.
Article 8 Concepts Advisory Committee
1. The Concepts Advisory Committee advises the College on whether to grant a subsidy as defined in article 3.1, based on the objectives of the scheme and the requirements outlined in Article 5.1; The Concepts Advisory Committee:
a. consists of minimally three members with obvious experience and expertise in the fields of consumer-directed entrepreneurship, commercial real estate and finances;
b. appoints a chairperson themselves, who is the first point of contact with interested parties;
c. the committee is established by the College; the members are personally appointed and dismissed, the College can give in mandate the authority to appoint and dismiss the members of the Concepts Advisory Committee;
d. members of the Committee are appointed for maximally the duration of the regulation;
e. only gives a positive advice when the majority judges that enterprise in question fulfils the conditions of this regulation and the requirements of article 5;
f. will receive an explanation as to the content and finances of the applicant’s activities and their entrepreneurial concept. This in addition / deviation from the ASV Eindhoven as regards the data to be submitted;
g. judges an application only once, this advice is irrevocable. If motivated, the College may deviate from the advice in their considerate decision;
h. the meetings of the Concept Advice Committee are not public.
Article 9 Application
1. 1. Contrary to article 7, sub b of the ASV Eindhoven, applications can be submitted until November 1, 2026.
2. An application is submitted via the Easyfunders subsidy system.
3. At the application for activities defined in article 3.1 and 3.2, complementary to Article 6 of the ASV Eindhoven, the following documents must be submitted:
a. a copy of the Chamber of Commerce membership;
b. a copy of a valid identity card of the small entrepreneur, or of the directors if the small entrepreneur is a legal entity;
c. a copy of a signed (conceptual) rent contract of the new location from which it is clear that this has been undertaken a minimum duration as described in Article 5;
d. a business plan with a balanced multiple-years budget and a financial exploitation plan which shows that the subsidy that is applied for is not higher than 50 % of the rent owed in the first year of exploitation and 25 % in the second year of exploitation in case of article 3.1 and regarding subsidy in case of article 3.2 the subsidy don’t exceeds the maximum of 50% of the costs
e. the de-minimis declaration;
f. copies of applicable permits or exemptions. In case the application is based on a conceptual rental agreement, it is required to proof that required permits are granted before the start of the subsidy.
Article 10 Grounds for Refusal
Notwithstanding article 4:25, 2 and 4:35 of the “Algemene Wet Bestuursrecht”, a subsidy may be refused if:
a. the Concept Advisory Committee as referred to in article 8, advises negatively for an application regarding article 3.2;
b. the municipality of Eindhoven concludes that an application relating to article 3.2 does not meet the conditions mentioned in article 5.2.
c. a small entrepreneur or legal entity relocates within the same designated areas in article 4, a, respectively b;
d. a small entrepreneur or legal entity extends the same formula with a second establishment in the same in article 4, a. respectively b. designated area;
e. a negative BIBOB advice;
f. if it concerns a takeover or substitution of an existing small business without substantial changes to the operations;
g. if the application is received more than 18 months after the start of the rental agreement.
Article 11 Decision Period
1. The College decides on the subsidy application within 8 weeks after receiving the complete application.
2. The College can postpone the decision once with a maximum of 4 weeks.
Article 12 Accountability and Final Determination of the Subsidy
1. Contrary to article 16 of the ASV Eindhoven, the explanation and final determination of the subsidy as defined in article 3.1 occurs 13 months after allocation of the subsidy and after controlling if the enterprise concept not has been changed regarding the concept judged (Article 8) by the Concepts Advisory Committee. The starting date of the (conceptual) rent contract is seen as the initial date of the year of exploitation.
2. For subsidies as referred to in Article 3.1, which were granted before 10 December 2024 on the basis of the previous scheme, accountability and determination of the subsidy will take place in accordance with the procedure described in Article 12.1.
3. Notwithstanding Article 16 of the ASV Eindhoven, accountability and determination of the subsidy as referred to in Article 3.2 will take place 1 month after the end of the temporary initiative.
4. For accountability and decision of the subsidy the stipulations of Chapter 6 of the ASV are applicable.
Article 13 Hardship Clause
The College of mayor and alderman may deviate from this scheme if strict application of, considering the interests it means to protect, may lead to unfairness of a considerable nature.
Article 14 Effective Date and Duration
a. This scheme takes effect on the day after its publication in the municipal periodical and remains in force until December 31, 2026. The subsidy regulation remains after 31 December 2026 in so far as it refers to the request for determination and justification of the subsidies that were granted, as meant in article 12.1 and 12.2.
b. The subsidy scheme as published on 3 January 2024 is withdrawn and will remain applicable after 31 December 2026 insofar as it relates to the application for determination and the accountability of the subsidies granted, as referred to in Article 12, paragraphs 1 and 2.
Article 15 Citation Title
This scheme is cited as the Subsidieregeling impulsaanpak verbetering binnenstad, wijkcentrumgebieden en radialen.
Eindhoven, 10 December 2024
The College of Mayor and Aldermen of Eindhoven.
Annex: Designated Areas