Boulevard Zuid is one of the largest old shopping areas in Rotterdam, with 240 business premises. The shopping area had a regional function before the arrival of the Zuidplein Shopping Centre. After Zuidplein had been open for a number of years, the flood of shoppers appeared to be receding. The shopping centre is now aimed only at the surrounding districts.

The aim of the project is to provide an impetus to improve the quality of the enterprises and to support the entrepreneurs.

A consultancy in Rotterdam with a lot of experience with this target group is carrying out consultations for individual entrepreneurs. In the first instance the project is aimed at starters, but over time established business people have also been able to utilise this opportunity. Over a period of three years 20 business analyses and 20 intensive consultations have been held annually. Attention is also being paid to providing information to entrepreneurs and to stimulate and support applications.

These activities are intended to contribute to an improvement in the entrepreneurial climate at Boulevard Zuid and to ensure that the individual entrepreneurs receive professional advice that is geared to their activities and needs. In the longer term the impetus will contribute in a positive way to the development of the shopping centre.

European subsidy: € 80.546
Total cost: € 161.092

This project has been partially funded with Objective 2 funds. Since 2000 nine cities have been eligible for the Objective 2 Urban Areas in the Netherlands programme, which forms part of the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRD) of the European Union. EFRD is one of the four Structural Funds of the European Commission. The programme helps cities to carry out projects that benefit disadvantaged areas.

In the Netherlands, total European Objective 2 subsidies concern 192 million euros. 4.25% of the Dutch population lives in the selected areas.

The European Commission prescribes that for every euro from the EFRD, a minimum of one euro must be contributed from the government. The cities must therefore add their own public or private funding to the European subsidy. The European programme is linked to the urban plans agreed within the context of the urban policy of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. For this, the cities can make use of funds that have been allocated to them in the context of the national urban policy.

Rotterdam Feijenoord - local programme management
Phone: + 31 10 2441751 / 2441755

01/01/2001

case

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Business support