Gröpelingen neighbourhood initiative

Gröpelingen Marketing e.V. and Kultur vor Ort e.V.

The Gröpelingen neighbourhood initiative consists of two partners: Gröpelingen Marketing e.V. and Kultur vor Ort e.V. The two initiatives are tasked with integrating the local economy with the neighbourhood culture.

In addition to their existing responsibilities of neighbourhood networking and promotion, as well as event promotion, the two associations started providing advice to SMEs in early 2015.
The “Kultur Vor Ort e.V.” cultural initiative comes up with ideas for particularly creative events. A highlight each November is the international and multilingual “Feuerspuren-Festival” (traces of fire festival), which attracts publicity in and beyond the region, and boosts the sense of identification felt by the residents of Gröpelingen with their neighbourhood. Another key aspect of its work is developing ideas to improve the links between the neighbourhood and the other side of the Weser (and particularly to Woltmershausen and the city centre). In this context, mention should be made of the event “Weserwege – Bremer Fährtag”, (Weser paths – Bremen ferry day), which takes place every two years. The tourist-oriented services of guided tours of the neighbourhood round off the services it provides.

The “Gröpelingen Marketing e.V.” trade association organises events like the “Gröpelingen Summer" every two years. The “Gröpelingen Map” project, a map for customers in the neighbourhood, was also initiated by Gröpelingen Marketing e.V. and is to be continued.

Advising SMEs – a new task

In view of the overarching concept of the priority axis (strengthening the local economy), the issue of “SME advice” is being implemented in the new programming period. Here, a holistic view is to be taken of the needs of the companies and of the potential and resources of the local economy.

In this context:

• Local investment projects will be addressed, with more targeted use being made of the instrument of microloans, which is anchored in Priority Axis 2 of the ERDF programme, to foster the local economy in the disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
• General issues will be addressed like handing on companies to the next generation, company take-overs, and company-related or cross-company marketing.
• Possibilities will be utilised to involve small firms from the creative economy more in the local economy of disadvantaged neighbourhoods, or to increase the focus on forms of the solidarity-based economy (e.g. cooperatives).

Against this background, the Gröpelingen Marketing and Kultur Vor Ort associations have been offering advice to SMEs in addition to their existing responsibilities of neighbourhood networking and promotion, as well as event promotion, since early 2015. This is a neighbourhood-focused service complementing and coordinated with the existing Bremen start-up network and the other state-wide and centralised advisory services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). As a result, the funding allocated under the new ERDF programme for Gröpelingen Marketing and Kultur vor Ort is increased to €140,000 per initiative and year, or a total of €280,000 a year.

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