Sustainable community initiative grant
Grants of €250–€15,000 for residents and community organisations working together on energy, emissions or climate resilience projects in Venlo.
Diese Finanzierungsmöglichkeit ist derzeit auf Englisch beschrieben.
Fund a collective project that benefits a street, neighbourhood or village in Venlo: for example, saving or sharing locally generated energy, reducing CO₂ emissions, managing rainfall or improving cooling during hot, dry periods. The scheme also covers education about the energy transition and climate adaptation, and research into locally applicable sustainable solutions.
The one-off grant supports necessary, reasonable costs directly linked to the initiative. Costs incurred before applying are excluded. Ordinary rent, administration and operating costs qualify only if you can show they are specifically linked to the project. You can apply only once for each initiative. At least 10% of costs must come from your own contribution or other funders; reasonable, demonstrable contributions of materials or volunteer time can count at a financial value. The grant itself ranges from €250 to €15,000.
Eligibility
- Residents, associations, nonprofit community organisations, foundations and partnerships can apply. Legal-entity applicants must normally be nonprofit, but the municipality can decide to make an exception. Residents’ activities must have a collective or public character. The project must take place in Venlo and serve a community purpose, rather than commercial, individual or business interests.
- Meet all six assessment criteria: concrete sustainability results; collaboration with other parties; active resident involvement in delivery or decisions; a realistic plan, organisation and budget; costs proportionate to impact; and effects that continue after the project or can grow in scale. A partnership must appoint one applicant to take responsibility for delivery and the award obligations.
- The municipality may refuse support where you already have sufficient resources, the costs normally require reserves, the activities conflict with municipal policy or legal/public-interest rules, or the activities are religious or political. Food, drink and entertainment costs can be refused, except reasonable costs for recognising and retaining volunteers. Applicable European state-aid prohibitions also apply.
- After an award, obtain necessary permissions and publicise the activities through suitable local channels. Keep records of payments, receipts, rights and obligations. Report promptly in writing if activities or obligations cannot be met, and notify relevant financial, organisational, statutory or dissolution changes. Insure risks you cannot bear yourself, including legal liability; accommodation owners also need fire and contents insurance. Legal entities must cooperate with municipal investigations.
- Grants above €5,000 require an application for final settlement within 12 weeks after the activities finish, with an activity report and a statement of income and expenditure. Follow any different deadlines, information requirements or additional duties in your award. If you miss a new settlement deadline set by the municipality, it can set the grant at zero. It may amend or withdraw support if refusal grounds emerge after award. On liquidation, splitting or merger, support for activities not completed must be repaid; liquidation can also trigger recovery of remaining assets formed from municipal subsidies. Your award may require compensation for assets created with the subsidy.
How to apply
- Status
- Laufende Antragstellung
- Beschränkungen dieser Antragsrunde
- Apply at least eight weeks before activities begin.
- 2026 budget: €200,000, allocated in order of complete eligible applications.
Apply to Gemeente Venlo at least eight weeks before you plan to start. Applications can be submitted throughout the calendar year. The 2026 budget is €200,000, allocated in order of receipt of applications that meet all submission requirements.
Use the application links on the official grant page: eHerkenning for organisations, DigiD for individuals, or the form without either credential. Prepare your activities plan using the mandatory writing guide, addressing the community impact, relevant objectives and all six criteria. Include a budget and funding plan showing your contribution, co-funders and other subsidies or reimbursements requested or received for the activities.
A legal entity applying for the first time must also provide its founding deed or statutes, Chamber of Commerce registration and board membership, plus the previous year’s annual report, accounts or balance sheet where applicable. Supply any additional information the municipality requests within its stated deadline.