News item | 22-03-2023 | 2:00 PM
Retail is under pressure from online shopping, while SMEs keep a village center or city center liveable, clean and attractive. Nine municipalities in Friesland (Heerenveen, Noardeast-Fryslân), Limburg (Beekdaelen), North Brabant (Tilburg), North Holland (Uithoorn), Overijssel (Oldenzaal), South Holland (Dordrecht, Nissewaard, Rijswijk) will therefore receive from the minister Micky Adriaansens (Economic Affairs and Climate) a total of 18 million euros to improve their shopping area or street. With this government support, municipalities can, for example, provide more greenery or catering, fit in homes and better physically connect shopping streets via walking routes.
Minister Micky Adriaansens (EZK): “Online and physical shopping can coexist perfectly. Digitization offers additional opportunities to our retail trade and convenience to consumers. In addition, SMEs with a physical store are and will remain attractive, because enough consumers first really want to see, try, feel or taste products. Its attractiveness increases if there is a compact village center or city center with sufficient greenery, catering facilities and a good, refurbished environment in terms of accessibility, streets and buildings. With this support, the government is investing in this locally from a greater social and economic point of view.”
Cabinet supports local economy with Impulse approach to shopping areas
The 18 million euro support is the second grant to municipalities from the so-called Impulse approach Shopping areas (total budget of 100 million euros). In addition to municipalities, private investors have an important share in the realization of the projects.
The nine awarded projects in the second round are: Develop Center Plan East (Heerenveen), Reinforcement of the Dokkum shopping area (North East Friesland), Center Schinveld Bleekplaats/Beekstraat (Beekdale), Project area Koningswei/Koningsplein (Tilburg), Uithoorn shopping center (Uithoorn), Redevelopment approach area southwest (Oldenzaal), Refurbishment of the Statenplein/Kolffstraat (Dordrecht), Connection Uitstraat-Nieuwstraat and approach Breestoep Spijkenisse (Nissewaard) and Approach Sterpassage shopping center Bogaard (Rijswijk).
In September 2022, eleven other municipalities (Alkmaar, Bunschoten, Den Helder, Hardenberg, Heerlen, Hengelo, Het Hogeland, Hilversum, Oldambt, Roosendaal and Sittard-Geleen) already received 22 million euros from the cabinet. The scheme has a total of four opening periods. The third round of the scheme (26 million euros) is open from 26 June to 4 September 2023. Municipalities can here find information.