Start-up and Growth Financing – GuW Hessen (ERP)
Low-interest loan for start-ups, freelancers, and SMEs in Hesse to finance investments, working capital, inventory, as well as business start-ups, successions, and participations. Loan amount up to €1 million.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Promotion of investments, working capital, inventory, as well as start-ups, successions, and participations for founders, freelancers, and small and medium-sized enterprises in Hesse through low-interest loans of up to 1 million euros.
Eligible expenses
- Equipment and machinery
- Land and buildings
- Construction costs
- Furnishings
- Company vehicles
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Non-eligible expenses
- Investments in non-EU/non-OECD high-income countries
- Power generation plants
- Real estate with subsequent third-party rental/lease
- Real estate leasing
- Financing of residential buildings
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Eligible to apply
- Founders
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Professional and commercial suitability as well as power of representation of the applicants
- Company headquarters or branch in Hesse for projects planned outside of Hesse
- Compliance with environmental and social legal requirements and standards in the investment country
Documents required for application
- Application form via the house bank
- Declaration of already received de minimis aid
- Statistical appendix
Description
The Start-up and Growth Financing Hessen (ERP) provides low-interest loans of up to 1 million euros in the Hessen region for start-ups, freelancers, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. The objective is to support investments, working capital, and inventory as well as the financing of business foundations, successions, and participations. The program is continuously available and allows project durations between 24 and 240 months with a funding rate of 100%. The Wirtschafts- und Infrastrukturbank Hessen (WIBank), as the central development bank of the state, coordinates the offering in cooperation with KfW. Fixed interest rates are guaranteed for terms of 2, 5, 10, or 20 years; young companies in GRW and ERDF priority areas additionally benefit from particularly low conditions.
Eligible for funding are, among others, equipment and machinery, land and buildings, furnishings, software and licenses, company vehicles, as well as operating and business equipment, personnel costs, marketing and consulting costs, or material and inventory stocks. Part-time start-ups, cooperatives, and commercial social enterprises with profit-making intent may also apply. Requirements include professional and commercial suitability, power of representation, a company headquarters in Hessen, and compliance with environmental and social legal standards. Non-eligible are, for example, residential building financing, real estate leasing, refinancing, follow-up financing, and investments in non-EU/non-OECD high-income countries. Applications can be submitted at any time through the house bank procedure; this includes the application form via the house bank, the declaration of already received de minimis aid, and a statistical annex.
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