600,000 euros for green, healthy and climate-proof initiatives

March 26, 2024 at 4:46 PM

Nature and environment

UTRECHT The province of Utrecht will open a subsidy scheme on April 2 to make neighborhoods and buildings greener, healthier and more climate-proof and to improve biodiversity. Associations, foundations, municipalities, companies, housing associations, homeowners’ associations and other legal entities can apply for a subsidy for an initiative in outdoor areas, an awareness campaign or for innovation and research. A total of more than 600,000 euros is available.

The growing population in the province of Utrecht and the changing climate offer challenges for maintaining a healthy living environment with sufficient greenery and biodiversity. Increasingly heavy rain showers, risk of flooding and hot days and drought in the summer cause damage. That is why the province wants to stimulate initiatives that contribute to the green and healthy design of cities and villages. This helps keep it drier and cooler in extreme weather.

EXAMPLES

The Oosterlicht Church in De Bilt has applied for a subsidy for greening the garden and the parking spaces at the church with semi-paving (semi-open tiles). This contributes to biodiversity (more life in the soil) and during heavy rain the water can sink into the ground better. A biodiverse green facade or green roof is also eligible for a subsidy. For example, the Hof van Cartesius in Utrecht has created a green roof garden of 180m2 with the help of the subsidy. This ensures more efficient drainage of rainwater, cooling and the promotion of biodiversity in urban areas. Tree mirrors, the small pieces of ground around trees, can often be a lot greener. Guerrilla Gardeners applied for a subsidy for their annual Tree Mirror Festival. The foundation helped residents who wanted to brighten up the space around the trees in their street together with their neighbors. Good for plants and animals and a nice way for neighbors to meet each other. Guerrilla Gardeners provides tips, promotional material and packages with native plants and flower bulbs. Over the past two years, 1,200 tree mirrors in our province have already been greened.

PETRIFIED

Deputy Has Bakker talks about the importance of the subsidy scheme: “Due to the changing climate, we are increasingly confronted with heavy rains and heat and drought in the summer. This causes the most inconvenience, especially in neighborhoods and streets that are very paved. There it is more difficult for water to drain away and heat lingers longer during a heat wave. We want to ensure that these places in the province are better able to withstand the changing climate. That is why we support initiatives from the most urbanized neighborhoods just a little more, they are eligible for a higher subsidy amount.”

CONDITIONS

Subsidies can be requested for initiatives that make the environment greener, healthier (more exercise and meeting) and more climate-proof. Initiators can apply for a minimum of €2,000 and a maximum of €50,000, with a maximum of 50% of the actual costs incurred being reimbursed. In a ‘petrified’ neighborhood, a subsidy of up to €60,000 can be applied for. Up to 75% of the actual costs incurred will be reimbursed.

More information about the subsidy scheme and the conditions can be found on the subsidy page. Initiators who are thinking about applying for a subsidy can register for a webinar on Friday, April 2. Employees of the province of Utrecht will then tell you more about the subsidy and provide tips for the application.

SCHOOL SQUARE SUBSIDIES

In recent years, several Utrecht primary schools have made their schoolyard greener and more climate-proof. This is possible again this year with a subsidy from the province. To help schools green their squares and apply for subsidies, the province offers process guidance. Schools can register for this via an intake interview with the expert team of the Utrechtseschoolpleinen Service Point. After approval by the expert team, the school can submit a subsidy application. A total of 575,000 euros is available from the subsidy scheme for green schoolyards.