Modernization of Economic Roads
Funding for the sustainable modernization of central rural infrastructure in North Rhine-Westphalia through the expansion and reinforcement of agricultural roads. Applications possible annually until January 15.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for rural development measures to secure and further develop rural areas as living, working, recreational, and natural spaces. The goal is the sustainable improvement of key rural infrastructure through the expansion and reinforcement of existing agricultural roads, including structural facilities such as culverts or bridges, construction of gap closures, and necessary compensatory measures for nature conservation.
Eligible expenses
- Expansion and reinforcement of existing farm roads
- Structural facilities (culverts, bridges)
- New construction of paved gap closures
- Necessary compensation measures for nature conservation
Non-eligible expenses
- Construction and development projects in new residential, commercial, and industrial areas
- Land acquisition
- Planning work that is legally required
- Public administration services
- Ongoing operation and maintenance
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Eligible to apply
- Public Institutions
Funding requirements
- Funded or recognized rural road network concept
- Implementation in towns with up to 10,000 inhabitants
- Location within the program area 'Rural Areas 2014-2020'
Documents required for application
- Funding Guidelines
- Application Form
- Proof of Lack of Viability
- Cost Estimate and Financing Plan
- Proof of Legal Admissibility
- Proof of Land Availability
- Prioritization Statement in Case of Multiple Applications
Evaluation criteria
- Existence of a recognized trail network concept
- Implementation relevance to regional development strategy (LEADER)
Description
The Modernization of Agricultural Roads program in North Rhine-Westphalia supports public institutions in the sustainable modernization of key rural infrastructure. Funding is provided for measures based on a funded or recognized rural road network concept in municipalities with up to 10,000 inhabitants within the framework defined by the NRW program "Rural Areas 2014–2020." Eligible recipients are municipalities, participant communities under the Land Consolidation Act, as well as water and soil associations that intend to implement existing road network concepts. The objective is the expansion and reinforcement of existing agricultural roads that have not yet been sufficiently load-bearing for agricultural and forestry traffic, limited motor vehicle traffic, or regional bicycle traffic. Also eligible for funding are structural facilities such as culverts and bridges, construction of gap closures, and necessary compensatory nature conservation measures. The measure contributes to securing and further developing rural areas as living, working, recreational, and natural spaces.
The funding is provided as a one-time grant with a rate of 60 percent of eligible expenses, which can be increased up to 70 percent in LEADER or VITAL.NRW regions, with a maximum of 500,000 euros per project. Eligible costs include construction and ancillary construction costs, planning services up to 15 percent, as well as necessary own contributions up to 60 percent of market values. Projects in new construction, commercial, and industrial areas, land acquisition, ongoing maintenance, or legally mandated planning work are not eligible for funding. A decisive selection criterion is the existence of a recognized road network concept and ideally a reference to a regional development strategy (LEADER). Applications can be submitted annually by January 15; for all details regarding the application form, documentation, and procedural process, the guideline for funding the sustainable modernization of rural infrastructure applies.
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