Funding of Regional Managements of Future Regions in Lower Saxony

In Lower Saxony, the program supports the establishment, expansion, and operation of professional regional management in the future regions recognized by ERDF and ESF+. Leading municipalities or districts act as lead partners and coordinate the strategic implementation of regional future concepts together with economic and social partners, the offices for regional state development, and other local actors. Through cross-border cooperation beyond district boundaries, region-specific potentials are to be leveraged and sustainable impulses set in the areas of regional development as well as agriculture and rural development. The project duration extends up to 84 months and offers diverse opportunities for initiating, launching, and developing concrete measures – from the concept phase to the realization of innovative projects.

The non-repayable grant reimburses personnel costs for regional management and material costs for project initiation and development with a funding rate of up to 70% in more developed regions (MDR) and up to 90% in transition regions (TR). A maximum of €210,000 (MDR) or €270,000 (TR) can be approved per year. A legally binding recognition notice from the ERDF/ESF+ managing authority for the 2021–2027 funding period as well as proof of defined quality criteria and a climate compatibility assessment are prerequisites. Lead partners may pass on funds to municipally involved organizations and economic development agencies as final recipients once a binding cooperation agreement is in place. Applications can be submitted at any time before the project start via the NBank customer portal; standardized form packages – for example, for project description, project personnel planning, and electronic document archiving – are available for this purpose.