In 2020, the independent Green Economy Limburg Foundation was founded by Michel van Lieshout and Ilmar Woldring. The foundation is committed to supporting SMEs in Limburg in the field of sustainable entrepreneurship, with a focus on the energy transition. The SME Energy Transition Charter program, started in July 2021 with support from the province of Limburg and local authorities, has so far helped almost two thousand companies with information, advice and guidance.
A more recent development within the Limburg Green Economy Foundation is the approach to provide 100% of the burden to companies. Informing, advising, guiding, installing and aftercare. At the end of 2023, the foundation was awarded the concession in a European tender from eight South Limburg municipalities, including Maastricht and Sittard-Geleen. This resulted in the VerduurzaamJeMKB program, which the foundation will implement in the coming years together with alliance partners Koninklijke Kuijpers, Volta NXT, Roderland and WoonWijzerWinkel Limburg, together with the affiliated energy advisors, Rescoop Limburg/energy cooperatives and financial partners.
By offering companies a total package in combination with a one-stop function and process monitoring, the energy task is made more accessible for companies. And not only the technical aspects, but also the financial and any legal-planning aspects (when granting permits) are taken into account. This way, entrepreneurs have all the time they need to do business, instead of wasting too much time reading up on subsidies and technical details.
In addition to relieving the burden on individual companies, the Green Economy Limburg Foundation also focuses on making industrial estates more sustainable. Collaboration between companies offers additional opportunities to successfully tackle the energy challenge. By mapping an industrial estate, you can see what opportunities there are for energy savings and for the (additional) generation of sustainable energy. A so-called Smart Energy Hub was even created on the Pannenweg II industrial estate in Nederweert, where affiliated companies will supply green energy to each other.
In addition to the energy transition, the foundation also encourages companies to think more broadly about sustainable entrepreneurship, from waste reduction to complete sustainability of the business model, in order to meet society and customers, but also to distinguish themselves on the market and be attractive. remain for future employees.
Furthermore, through the efforts of sustainable Limburg entrepreneurs as ambassadors, the foundation manages to inspire and enthuse other entrepreneurs to continue working on sustainability themselves.
The Green Economy Limburg Foundation strives to help many SME companies in Limburg realize their sustainable business future. For more information, visit the website: groen-economie.com and verduurzaamjemkb.nl or email: [email protected].
Knowledge meeting Solarge — © Jeroen Kuit
