Which grants can help create or grow a business in the Compiegne agglomeration?

Key takeaway

The reference database lists one grant associated with the ARC: the Initiative Oise Est honour loan, interest-free and unsecured, generally between €5,000 and €30,000 depending on the source entry, subject to review. The ARC also publishes separate local schemes for business creation/takeover and business development. Do not confuse the programmes, and check their openness and criteria with the relevant bodies.

The role of the Agglomeration de la Region de Compiegne

The ARC supports the economic development of its territory. Its official page describes three local schemes launched in partnership with the Hauts-de-France Region: support for creation or takeover, support for the development of micro-enterprises (TPE), and support for the development of SMEs. The ARC collects applications, which are then reviewed by a local committee. These local grants are distinct from the Initiative Oise Est honour loan listed in the Capital OS database.

Initiative Oise Est honour loan: strengthening the creator's contribution

The database entry describes an interest-free, unsecured honour loan granted on a personal basis. The amount generally recorded is €5,000 to €30,000, repayable over 3 to 5 years. It targets creation or takeover projects and comes with follow-up support from the Initiative network. The entry states that the loan is usually paired with a bank loan. These parameters are reference data and must be confirmed with Initiative Oise Est: they do not constitute a guaranteed scale nor a decision to grant funding.

The local schemes published by the ARC

The ARC's official page describes investment grants for certain companies located in the territory. The published criteria include in particular a minimum total investment of €5,000 excluding VAT and, for the relevant schemes, a grant set at 20% of eligible investment excluding VAT, capped at €6,000. The targeted profiles differ depending on the scheme: creation/takeover in certain local activities, micro-enterprises (TPE) with fewer than 10 employees having closed their first financial year, or SMEs with fewer than 250 employees in the economic development sectors identified by the ARC. The current rules and appendices should be consulted to confirm the project's eligibility.

What expenses can be considered?

For the ARC's local grants, the official page cites in particular new tangible investments, mobile equipment for economic use excluding passenger vehicles, certain intangible investments and fit-out work related to setting up. For SMEs, it also mentions new productive investments and intangible expenses directly linked to the project; the estimated payroll costs of directly created jobs may be taken into account depending on the scheme. Consumables and raw materials are excluded from the eligible base described on the page. Expenses must not be incurred before the application is submitted where the rules require this.

How to prepare an application?

1. Define the need: creation/takeover, development investment or strengthening personal contribution. 2. Prepare a business plan, a financing plan and cash-flow forecasts. 3. For the honour loan, contact Initiative Oise Est and check pairing with a bank loan. 4. For an ARC grant, consult the rules, the appendices and the list of required documents. 5. The ARC's page states that the application letter must be submitted before expenses are incurred and that quotes must be detailed in the dedicated appendix. 6. Confirm the deadlines, eligibility, combination rules and the state of the budget before any decision.

Points of caution

The honour loan is a personal loan, not a grant. The ARC's local grant is a separate scheme with its own beneficiaries, expenses and procedures. The presence of an entry in the Capital OS database does not guarantee that applications are open, that the budget is available, or that the application will be accepted. The thresholds and amounts published on the ARC's page must be re-checked against the current rules and appendices.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Is the honour loan awarded directly by the ARC? A. The database entry refers to the Initiative Oise Est network; contact this operator for processing and the applicable terms.

Q. Is the honour loan free? A. The entry states an interest-free, unsecured loan, but it must be repaid according to the agreed schedule.

Q. Can the ARC's local grants be combined with other funding? A. Combination must be confirmed against the applicable rules, the aid scheme and other public funding received.

Q. Can I incur expenses before submitting the application? A. The official page states that the application letter must be submitted before expenses are incurred. Check the exact rules in the scheme's documents.

Official sources

• Business support schemes — Agglomeration de la Region de Compiegne
• Initiative Oise network website — Initiative Oise
• Regional SME development support scheme — earlier resolution — Agglomeration / Hauts-de-France Region