For the third competition for the provision of advance subsidies for projects to improve the living standards and work in rural areas, 280 applications were submitted with investments of 445 million lei, the amount of the requested subsidies - 370 million lei.
This was reported by the Agency for Interventions and Payments in Agriculture (AIPA), noting that, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, it began a joint assessment and selection of projects submitted for the third call from November 2, 2020 until January 27, 2021. The dossier will be assessed by a special commission of 7 members based on performance indicators in accordance with the goals set out in the investment project by assigning points (from 100 to 160 points). Following the panel's assessment, the selected dossiers, in descending order, within available funds, will be submitted to AIPA for the upfront grant contract and for monitoring project implementation. Dossiers that score a large number of points, but are not approved due to lack of funds, will be re-evaluated in the next competition based on the same rules as the projects submitted for the first time. As InfoMarket reported earlier, money for three new measures in the segment of rural development will be allocated from the National Fund for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas, and the amount of financing will be 5% of the total fund. The funds are intended to support investment projects aimed at developing and improving social infrastructure, especially in rural areas, as well as increasing their attractiveness for creating new jobs. The first measure “Improvement and Development of Rural Public Economic Infrastructure” provides for the allocation of advance subsidies to co-finance investment projects aimed at improving and developing rural public infrastructure and reducing socio-economic decline trends in rural areas. In particular, the construction / rehabilitation / modernization of local public roads and bridges, water supply systems, water treatment and sewerage systems will be supported. The subsidies here will amount to 3 million lei, and the personal contribution should be at least 20%. The second support measure "Renewal and Development of Rural Areas" provides for the allocation of advance subsidies for projects to facilitate and improve the living conditions of the rural population, in particular, to create, improve and expand basic local services for the rural population, including leisure and culture, as well as related this structure, for the repair / reconstruction of public buildings, sites for organizing markets, fairs, exhibitions, repair of local pedestrian streets, installation of public lighting, production and supply systems using renewable resources, development of social services for vulnerable groups (childcare centers, the elderly and persons with special needs), for the construction / reconstruction of kindergartens, the purchase of vehicles and equipment for snow removal, maintenance of green spaces, etc. Projects for the preservation / restoration of historical heritage and rural natural landscape (individual objects or complexes of rural architecture representing historical or ethno-anthropological interest as evidence of the traditional rural economy, works of landscape architecture and art of gardens - squares, gardens, parks) will also receive support. It will also be subsidized within the framework of this measure, the restoration / rehabilitation / preservation of specific historical monuments / structures for traditional rural architecture in a certain area, intended for public purposes, including public monuments (old cellars, mills, boyar mansions) focused on the development of rural tourism, etc. The subsidies will also amount to 3 million lei with a personal contribution of at least 20%. The third support measure, “Diversifying the Rural Economy through Non-Agricultural Activities”, provides for upfront subsidies to facilitate the processing and marketing of traditional agricultural products, increasing the number of micro-enterprises and small businesses in the non-agricultural sector, which will promote service development and job creation. It is about supporting the creation of repair shops, equipment maintenance workshops, shoe workshops, the acquisition of non-agricultural machinery and equipment, including production and supply systems using renewable resources. The creation and modernization of veterinary services, construction / modernization / equipment of cinemas, local TV and radio stations will be encouraged. It is also planned to support construction / reconstruction projects and the use of points of direct sale of only food and non-food products of own / local production; projects for the conservation, development and diversification of handicraft and traditional crafts. The amount of subsidies will be up to 1 million lei with a personal contribution of at least 50%. Any individual and legal entity, administrative-territorial unit of the first level, villages and communes, cities with a population of up to 10 thousand people can become the beneficiaries of advance subsidies. The project should be implemented in rural areas; have an estimate of the costs of the work and / or services provided; project implementation should not exceed 24 months.// 24.05.2021 — InfoMarket.
