The COVID-19 pandemic has helped highlight and encourage a culture of local consumption. This culture must now take root and grow. Building a sustainable future, maximizing the local circulation of wealth, and providing a high quality of life and local services to all residents of the canton remain, more than ever, a cantonal priority. Following the success of previous editions in 2020 and 2021, the State Council is today launching a new call for ECOPROX projects.

While managing the health crisis and its social and economic consequences has required a significant amount of the State Council’s attention, issues related to sustainability, quality of life, and the creation and preservation of local jobs within the regions have always remained a cantonal priority. In this context, encouraging a culture of local consumption and supporting initiatives that can contribute to this goal continue to be among the objectives of this legislative session and remain the focus of financial support.

In 2020, the Council of State issued an initial call for projects, followed by a second one in March 2021, to support initiatives that foster local commerce, revitalize city and village centers, promote local consumption, and foster partnerships.

As expected, the Canton is continuing the initiative by launching a third call for projects in March 2022. The unique context of the health crisis has also given rise to new ideas and new purchasing and consumption habits, and has acted as a catalyst for change in certain areas. It is therefore necessary to maintain this momentum in order to entrench and strengthen this positive dynamic, and to provide concrete solutions to new challenges within our regions.

As a reminder, 13 projects received funding in 2020 out of 75 initiatives submitted. In 2021, 37 high-quality proposals were submitted, eight of which received funding. These projects, which were increasingly innovative, took into account the challenges of sustainable development and the risks of competition at the local level, and all contributed to building a more responsible and inclusive society and to maximizing the local circulation of wealth.

Collaborative and Innovative Projects

While many of the projects submitted as part of the ECOPROX 2020 and 2021 programs focused on the development of neighborhood businesses, awareness-raising initiatives, or the creation of digital platforms, other projects stood out for their innovative nature and the creativity of their concepts.

For example, the “La Circulaire” project, which received funding in 2021, aims to extend the lifespan of materials from stage design, store decor, construction, and interior design. It involves collecting, packaging, and storing these materials so they can be made available to the public for reuse.

The “Cyclone” project emerged from a collaboration between three distinct entities: the couriers of the company Vélocité, the Black Office association in Neuchâtel, and independent delivery riders in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It offers a local logistics service tailored to the needs of community stakeholders. In partnership with the cities of Neuchâtel and La Chaux-de-Fonds, the initiative offers a fast and eco-friendly (bicycle) delivery service that meets the needs of individuals, merchants, and local businesses.

Up to 50,000 francs per project

The Economic Development Office of the Canton of Neuchâtel (NECO), which will be responsible for selecting projects, hopes to see more and more of these collaborative initiatives emerge—ones that meet the objectives of the call for proposals while offering creative and innovative solutions to sustainability challenges.

As a reminder, financial support of up to 50,000 francs per project—representing no more than 50% of the financial commitments—may be granted. Projects must demonstrate their added value in terms of economic benefits at the local level. Only projects with an integrated partnership component (project led by multiple stakeholders, with collaborative and cooperative aspects) that goes beyond a simple subcontracting relationship will be considered.

For this call for proposals, the State of Neuchâtel will provide a total budget of approximately 150,000 francs.

A summary of the second edition is included in the document attached to this press release, along with testimonials and concrete examples of what was accomplished.

Projects may be submitted through July 17, 2022, to neco@ne.ch (subject line: ECOPROX 2022). The terms and conditions, evaluation criteria, and application form are available on the website: www.ne.ch/economiedeproximite