Commercial spaces

The economy in the Stuttgart region is currently undergoing a structural change that is characterized by electromobility, digitalization and Industry 4.0. It is becoming increasingly clear that many important strategic corporate decisions to set up new development and production facilities or expand existing locations can only be implemented if there is a sufficient supply of commercial space that is ready for construction and meets demand. This can take place in new, but must also take place in existing industrial estates, which need to be redensified and further developed. Added to this are the current challenges arising from the climate and energy crisis.

With the "Co-financing program for securing and activating commercial areas", the Verband Region Stuttgart and Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH therefore want to accelerate the implementation of additional commercial areas.

Following an adjustment of the objectives, co-financing will continue from 2024 with the remaining available funds of EUR 1.5 million. The program addresses both new and existing commercial space development projects and is also offered flexibly as a problem-solving program for individual case funding. From 2024, it will support realization-oriented municipal measures

• the activation of commercial and industrial sites that have already been secured in the land use plan and/or regional plan but have not yet been implemented,
• the development of commercial and industrial sites if they are of strategic regional interest, and
• the restructuring or revitalization of existing commercial sites (this includes existing commercial areas with structural location deficits as well as current or emerging brownfield sites).

• The funding is available to cities, municipalities and municipal special-purpose associations, but also districts, e.g. for joint projects.
• Funding criteria include regional significance or transferability as well as implementation orientation.
• The maximum funding amount is 50 percent of the project expenditure eligible for co-financing.
• There is no application deadline. Project proposals can be submitted at any time during the term of the program.

The funds are assessed and awarded as part of a competitive process. A jury made up of members of the regional assembly, the association office and the regional economic development agency makes recommendations. The final decision on each individual project is made by the Economic Committee.

The funding guidelines and the application form can be downloaded here:

• Guidelines for the co-financing program for commercial areas PDF
• Application form for project submission Word

The Verband Region Stuttgart has provided a total of 600,000 euros in funding for the "Unter dem Plieninger Weg" industrial estate in Ostfildern-Scharnhausen. The co-funded relocation and underground cabling of two existing high-voltage lines enabled the area of 11 hectares to be expanded by a further 3 hectares, efficiently creating additional commercial space.

The co-financing program thus supports a new commercial area that is unique in the region:

The Scharnhausen-West industrial estate is characterized by an exemplary, sustainable infrastructure and mobility concept that will lead to a high degree of energy self-sufficiency. An approach that is otherwise only known from residential areas. Once the area has been completed, it will emit around 5000 tons less CO2 emissions per year than conventional industrial estates.

To the overview of the projects and programs of the Verband Region Stuttgart