Promotion of Integrated Community Development Concepts (IGE Guidelines)

With the IGEK Guideline, the state of Saxony-Anhalt supports unified and collective municipalities in the development and updating of integrated municipal development concepts. As a non-repayable grant, up to 75% of eligible expenses are covered, with a maximum of €70,000 per concept. Applications can be submitted at any time before the start of the project to the responsible Office for Agriculture, Land Consolidation and Forestry (ALFF). Within a project duration of up to 84 months, strategic-planning foundations for a sustainable development of rural areas are created. Regional strengths and weaknesses are analyzed, long-term development goals formulated, and tailored action strategies defined – with particular involvement of citizens and local stakeholders. Eligible costs include consulting fees, personnel costs, and material costs for workshops, concept development, and public relations.

The funding is of interest to all unified and collective municipalities that are creating an IGEK for the first time or wish to update a previously funded concept. A prerequisite is the preparation according to the guideline “Integrated Municipal Development Concepts in Saxony-Anhalt,” taking into account the topics of equal living conditions, town center attractiveness, nature and climate protection, reduction of land consumption, demographic development, and digitalization. Legally mandated planning work and services of public administration are not funded. Municipal representatives thus gain a practical management tool to implement sustainable future projects in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, regional development, urban planning, and urban renewal in a targeted manner and to strengthen the municipality in the long term.