In Holzkirchen there is now a project fund to promote various activities

Created: 01/17/2022, 06:11

The Holzkirchner magic of lights on the third weekend in Advent was the first measure to be financed from the project fund.

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Holzkirchen – The market town of Holzkirchen has set up a project fund.

It has also been possible to secure funding.

The market town of Holzkirchen was granted a total of 200,000 euros for earmarked measures as part of the special fund “Invigorate inner cities” set up by the Bavarian state government last spring.

Part of the package was the renting of vacant premises in the town center in order to make them temporarily available to artists or start-ups, for example.

Approximately 60,000 euros were set aside for this, of which 48,000 euros would have come from the funding pot.

However, at the time the specific application was submitted, such properties were no longer available, according to the location promotion agency.

Finally, after intensive negotiations, it was possible to divert the funding to a newly created project fund.

This was recognized by the municipal council and a unanimous decision was taken.

"It took a little cloak-and-dagger action," Eva-Maria Schmitz, site promoter, informed the municipal council at a public meeting at the beginning of December about the creation of the municipal project fund.

Because no specific property could be named for renting vacant premises, it was not possible to develop a concept for a property that would be vacant in the future.

However, in order not to lose the funding, options were explored in consultation with the government of Upper Bavaria and the administration to let the money flow into a project fund. This can be used to finance smaller investment and non-investment measures. As an example, Schmitz named an event by local communities, lighting campaigns such as the magic lights on the third weekend in Advent and improvements to street furniture. Art events are also eligible. "It is important that these are local measures," said Schmitz.

On the recommendation of the government of Upper Bavaria, the steering committee for the allocation of funds should be kept relatively small. As Schmitz explained, the proposal from the committee to transfer this to the local and transport planning committee, for example, does not work because it has to be a separate and not a political committee. In addition, at least one external person from the citizenship should belong to this group.

It should be clear shortly who will be on the committee by name and function alongside Mayor Christoph Schmid. In any case, a representative of all factions will also be present. It was also agreed that the total budget for the project fund would be determined annually by the municipality in the future.

Simon Ammer (SPD) commented on Schmitz's lecture: "You managed to make sweet lemonade from sour lemons." Similar words of appreciation came from all groups.

Finally, it was unanimously decided to create the project fund, to provide the necessary own funds and to draw up guidelines for allocation.

These will be published shortly on the municipality's website.