ZIO stands for "Sustainable inner cities and town centers" and is a funding program of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. As part of the funding program, the state provides 35 million euros to support local authorities in establishing new uses for vacant stores or stores that are specifically threatened by vacancy in the central locations of inner cities and town centers. With the help of the funding program, Café/Eiscafé La Fonte has now been able to revitalize another vacant space.
Funding program facilitates location decision
Operators Hasan Arslan and Serdar Babaak from Weeze are looking forward to welcoming Kevelaer residents and visitors to Hauptstraße 33 with a range of waffles, crêpes, ice cream, bubble tea and many other new delicacies. "We chose Kevelaer because we like it and many people from the region regularly visit the pilgrimage town. The support from the funding program made our decision even easier," says Hasan Arslan with a twinkle in his eye.
"Every vacancy that we can revitalize with or without the funding programme through an attractive use is a gain for Kevelaer," emphasizes business promoter Verena Rohde.
"Anyone who has been toying with the idea of opening a business in the catering or retail sector for a while is welcome to get in touch with me," adds City Manager Tobias Nelke.
Sustainable inner cities and town centers (ZIO)
The funding program enables municipalities to rent vacant stores in a pre-defined concentration area for a period of up to 2 years. The prerequisite is that the landlord is prepared to let the property to the local authority for 70% of the old rent. The city can then re-let the property for 20% of the old rent. 60 % of the difference between the expenditure for renting and the income from renting is covered by subsidies, 40 % by the local authority's own contribution.