MPO has prepared 210 million CZK for municipalities and regions for the revitalization of brownfields

Prague – The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) has prepared 210 million crowns for selected municipalities, towns, and regions for the restoration and business utilization of brownfields for this year. Applications are accepted by the ministry until June 30. MPO is considering expanding the program to the entire Czech Republic in the coming years, it stated today in a press release. A recent survey by the state agency CzechInvest revealed that 80 percent of municipalities have so-called brownfields, i.e., unused areas or land designated for regeneration.

The Program for the Regeneration and Business Utilization of Brownfields is intended for municipalities and towns in the Moravian-Silesian, Ústí, and Karlovy Vary regions, as well as in other economically problematic regions. Regions can receive support of up to 60 percent, with grants for smaller municipalities reaching up to 95 percent of eligible expenses. For one project, the MPO will provide a contribution of up to 60 million crowns.

"The regeneration of brownfields entails higher costs for the reconstruction of old buildings, demolition, and possibly the removal of environmental burdens. Therefore, it is essential to assist especially smaller municipalities with these costs," stated Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (for ANO).

The MPO has been providing grants for the regeneration of brownfields and their future use for business purposes since 2017. In the previous four calls of the program, the ministry selected 20 projects, some of which have already been completed.

The recent survey by CzechInvest showed that the majority of municipalities plan to utilize brownfields to strengthen social infrastructure, with 35 percent of respondents wanting to build cultural facilities in them, and about a third of municipalities intending to use them to enhance educational activities. However, only about half of the municipalities are at the vision stage for the brownfield revitalization project. CzechInvest is therefore preparing initiatives to help municipalities with questions related to financial resources or cooperation with the private sector.