Package put together

Strengthening local suppliers: state doubles bonus

Provincial Vice-President Martin Gruber and Provincial Councillor Sebastian Schuschnig presented a package for local suppliers(Bild: zVg)

Ensuring the supply of food, a meeting point and an employer: local suppliers fulfill valuable tasks in Carinthian communities. A comprehensive support package has been put together to support them.

The statistics prove it: rural areas are struggling with out-migration. One reason why more and more people are seeking proximity to the cities is simply the better infrastructure. And it is often local suppliers in small rural communities that maintain such a structure and often become a point of communication for the population. "Anyone who lives in the countryside knows how important local suppliers are. We are now doubling their support and at the same time putting local products on the shelves," says Deputy Governor Martin Gruber.

Bonus for local suppliers

Gruber and Provincial Councillor Sebastian Schuschnig have therefore put together a package for local suppliers, which was approved by the provincial government on Tuesday. The local supplier bonus will be doubled - 400,000 euros in subsidies are available this year. Each business can collect up to 6000 euros in bonuses. 

Due to the high demand and the sharp rise in operating costs, we have decided to further expand and strengthen the funding. We want to fight for every local supplier.

Landesvize Martin Gruber und Landesrat Sebastian Schuschnig

Modernization is promoted
The second pillar of the package is a new investment subsidy from the Carinthian Economic Development Fund. "Our aim here is to support small food retailers with larger investments, to modernize existing locations and to open new ones," explains Schuschnig. Conversions or extensions, modernizations as well as the purchase of operating and business equipment from 10,000 euros are supported. A maximum of 25,000 euros can be collected per business. "Above all, we want to strengthen the small, often family-run local suppliers so that purchasing power and added value remain in the countryside and the food business in the village," says Schuschnig. 

Support for self-service huts
The funding line for self-service huts for farmers will also be continued. The focus here will be on investments in existing huts. "50,000 euros are available for this this year, so that we can also provide more support for the marketing of farm products this year," said Gruber.