Funding your business with Clermont Auvergne Métropole

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Economic support at every stage

Clermont Auvergne Métropole supports project leaders and businesses through start-up, establishment, development, ecological and social transition, or economic difficulties. The grants can take the form of subsidies, honour loans (interest-free personal loans) or targeted support mobilised with partners. Each scheme has its own target audience, timeline and criteria.

Scope of this guide

The Métropole has other tools and support schemes available: this guide does not replace checking with the economic development department which scheme is best suited. The head office or an eligible establishment must generally be located within the metropolitan area.

Industrial and craft production: the FMEP

The Fonds Métropolitain pour l'Entrepreneuriat de Production (Metropolitan Fund for Production Entrepreneurship) targets start-up or takeover projects for production businesses less than a year old. It can fund studies and fees before the start-up/takeover, then certain production investments afterwards. In September 2026, the Metropolitan Council decided to top up the fund by €80,000, following ten beneficiary businesses; individual amounts and criteria remain subject to case-by-case review.

Local shops and businesses: Coup de pouce

The metropolitan scheme supporting local businesses funds up to 20% of eligible investments, capped at €10,000, for small retail, service and craft businesses meeting the territorial criteria. In 2026, the Métropole announced support for 12 businesses totalling €62,100. Priorities and geographic criteria vary by municipality and neighbourhood.

Senior recruitment

The Recrut'seniors scheme supports the hiring of a person over 50. The reference amounts are €3,000 for a fixed-term contract of more than six months and €5,000 for a permanent contract. The Métropole confirmed in June 2026 that awards had been made to five businesses; the scheme's open status and contract criteria must be checked at the time of application.

Low-emission vehicles

The vehicle replacement grant supports local businesses and associations that replace a polluting professional vehicle with a low-emission vehicle. The reference amounts range from €200 to €3,000, but metropolitan news reports mentioned a cap that could reach €10,000 for certain low-emission utility vehicles in 2025. The applicable amount must be checked against the current regulations.

Responsible tourism, CSR and labels

Grants related to accommodation and catering support CSR initiatives, responsible labelling/certification and the rating of tourist rental properties. They mainly fund support or audit services, with limited rates and caps. The conditions on annual availability, location and combination with other public aid are important.

How to submit an application

1. Define the project and identify the right scheme: production, local investment, recruitment, mobility or responsible tourism. 2. Check the business's location and size. 3. Contact the metropolitan department or the partner operator. 4. Prepare quotes, proof of registration, financial documents, employment contract or assessment/audit depending on the grant. 5. Obtain written confirmation of eligible expenses and the timeline before signing a quote, buying a vehicle or starting the service.

Combining grants and committed expenses

Several tourism/CSR grants limit the combination of public aid to 80% or 60% depending on the scheme. The Coup de pouce scheme can supplement an honour loan. The rules vary: do not submit the same expense to several funders without confirming the caps and combination rules. Applying in advance is generally the prudent approach.

Are the caps always the same?

Not necessarily. Recent institutional pages may announce amounts different from those in the reference database, particularly for low-emission vehicles. The regulations in force on the date of application take precedence.

Is the FMEP open to long-established businesses?

The catalogue targets project leaders setting up or taking over a business established for less than a year in industrial or craft production. The exact conditions and the definition of the start-up date must be confirmed with the Métropole.

Who to contact?

The official "Implantation et création d'entreprise" (Business Location and Start-up) portal brings together the services, grants and support available. For schemes operated with the CCI, the CMA or Initiative, the partner may take part in the review or support process.

Check my eligibility for metropolitan grants

Capital OS helps identify the relevant schemes and prepare an initial analysis. Confirm the criteria, funding, timeline, combination rules and required documents with Clermont Auvergne Métropole or the relevant operator.

Review status

Partial review: nine grants documented in the master record. Official 2026 news confirms the activity of the FMEP, Coup de pouce and Recrut'seniors. The cap for the vehicle scheme varies between the reference database and recent publications; it must be reconciled with the current regulations. Also check the detailed conditions of the CSR/tourism grants and the Initiative loan.

Official sources

• 5 key points from the Metropolitan Council meeting of 24 September 2026 — Clermont Auvergne Métropole
• 5 key points from the Metropolitan Council meeting of 6 February 2026 — Clermont Auvergne Métropole
• 7 key points from the Metropolitan Council meeting of 26 June 2026 — Clermont Auvergne Métropole
• Business location and start-up — Clermont Auvergne Métropole
• Air Vehicles Fund / 2025 budget update — Clermont Auvergne Métropole
• Economic and ecological transition dossier — Clermont Auvergne Métropole
• Local shops support programme — launch — Clermont Auvergne Métropole