If you’re looking to start or take over a business in the Pays d’Opale area, this scheme offers financial support to help you get started. Eligible businesses can receive a grant covering 20% of their investment costs, up to a maximum of €3,000. Additional bonuses are available for projects that commit to ecological transition practices. This support is particularly aimed at revitalizing local economies and preserving necessary services in rural areas.

Objectives

This initiative aims to foster the creation and takeover of businesses within the Pays d’Opale inter-municipal cooperation area. It focuses on supporting craft, commercial, and service enterprises, as well as tourism-related businesses. The program emphasizes projects that contribute to the revitalization of town centers and the preservation of local shops in rural settings.

Beneficiaries

The scheme is designed for:

• Craft, commercial, or service businesses
• Tourism enterprises

Eligibility criteria include:

• For takeover projects, businesses must have 10 employees or fewer and annual revenue below €2 million.
• Special consideration is given to projects that have received support from local development networks, such as CCI or CMA.

Excluded sectors include trading activities, liberal professions, financial services, agricultural primary sector, and road freight transport.

Eligible operations

Eligible expenses include:

• Acquisition or modernization of productive equipment (e.g., IT and technical equipment)
• Fitting-out costs necessary for production setup (e.g., office furniture, exclusive business premises)
• Acquisition of vehicles for professional use (e.g., electric or hybrid vehicles)
• External communication services (e.g., website creation, logo design)

Note: Personal residential space conversions are limited to 50% of the quoted amount, capped at €6,000.

Eligibility conditions

To qualify for funding, projects must meet the following conditions:

• Minimum investment amount of €3,000
• Prior support from a member of the local development network (e.g., CCI, CMA)
• Preference for projects that have secured an honor loan from the Calaisis Initiative platform.

Grant amount

The grant provides 20% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of €3,000. Additionally, a bonus of €1,000 may be awarded for commitments to ecological transition practices, such as responsible purchasing and waste management.