The Vice-President of the Government revealed in Angra do Heroísmo that, in addition to a new financing tool for urban regeneration, there is also an allocation of Community funds. It "will boost the application of a financial envelope amounting to 20 million Euros in municipal investment during the first phase of public applications to the Azores 2020 Operational Programme."
"The 20 million-Euro amount has been adequately divided by municipalities in order to guarantee the access of all municipalities and council seat towns to Community funding," said Sérgio Ávila at the opening session of the seminar IFRRU - Financial Tools for Urban Rehabilitation and Revitalisation.
In his speech, he pointed out that this amount will be increased with the resources allocated under IFRRU which, "combined with other public and private resources, will provide the necessary support to stimulate private investment in the urban regeneration of buildings promoted by families and companies."
Sérgio Ávila announced that "municipalities have already submitted several applications under urban regeneration, corresponding to a proposed public investment of 11 million Euros."
The areas of intervention of these applications range from the rehabilitation of buildings and public spaces to pavements and footpaths; they are eligible for this type of municipal investment.
The Vice-President stressed that the support to families and companies promoting the rehabilitation of buildings "is achieved through the use of financial tools, which are essentially repayable financing and financial guarantee tools made available on more favourable terms than market conditions."
According to him, urban regeneration "is one of the aspects of the Azores 2020 Operational Programme exclusively directed to the municipalities of the archipelago, for all, without exception." In this regard, he defended that "it must meet other goals, other than just the rehabilitation of buildings outdoor spaces."
"Urban regeneration and rehabilitation in our towns and cities should reinforce social cohesion policy and, above all, improve the quality of life of citizens," said Sérgio Ávila. In this context, the Vice-President considered that "Azorean municipalities have an increased responsibility" and "will certainly be up to the challenge that are facing."
Azorean municipalities were invited in due time to prepare and submit the respective Integrated Urban Regeneration Plans.