The municipalities of Coevorden, Emmen and Borger-Odoorn want to merge their social work companies. By having an organization for sheltered work in South-East Drenthe, the municipalities believe they can work more efficiently.
Since 2015, municipalities have been responsible for guiding people with disabilities. The municipalities think they can do this better with one NV. According to the plans, the intention is that the current employment conditions of the employees are maintained. In addition, there will remain branches in all three municipalities.
The three municipal councils still have to agree to the plans. If that is the case, preparations for further cooperation will start in 2026.
The municipalities receive an annual structural contribution from the government, supplemented with a temporary impulse budget. Emmen receives the largest share of this budget, because the municipality is the largest within the partnership with Borger-Odoorn and Coevorden. The impulse budget runs for ten years and should contribute to the further development of sheltered employment.
The distribution of the impulse budget for 2025 is as follows: Emmen receives more than 376,000 euros, Coevorden more than 73,000 euros and Borger-Odoorn almost 29,000 euros. The structural government contribution will also grow in the coming years, from more than 202,000 euros in 2025 to almost 270,000 euros in 2029.