Clermont Auvergne Métropole

Economic support at every stage

Clermont Auvergne Métropole supports project leaders and businesses during start-up, establishment, development, ecological and social transition, or economic difficulties. Grants may be subsidies, honour 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 services available: this guide does not replace checking with the economic 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 one 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 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 businesses in retail, services and crafts 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 amounts in the reference database are €3,000 for a fixed-term contract of more than six months and €5,000 for a permanent contract. The Métropole confirmed awards to five businesses in June 2026; the opening conditions and contract criteria must be checked at the time of application.

Low-emission vehicles

The vehicle replacement grant supports local businesses and associations replacing a polluting professional vehicle with a low-emission vehicle. The amounts in the reference database range from €200 to €3,000, but metropolitan news reported 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 qualification of furnished tourist accommodation. They mainly fund support or audit services, with limited rates and caps. The annual opening conditions, location and combination with other public grants are important.

Fonds Métropolitain pour l'Entrepreneuriat de Production (FMEP)

The reference database indicates up to €5,000 for studies/fees before start-up or takeover and up to €25,000 for certain investments after start-up/takeover, within an overall cap of €25,000 per project. Target: leaders of industrial or craft production projects less than one year old, within the metropolitan area or the Biopôle Clermont Limagne.

Vehicle replacement grant

The reference database indicates a subsidy of €200 to €3,000 for businesses and associations with fewer than 50 employees, based and active within the territory, replacing a Crit'Air 5 or unclassified professional vehicle. Confirm the current cap, the eligible vehicle categories and the authorised purchase date.

Senior recruitment grant

The reference database indicates a bonus of €3,000 for a fixed-term contract of more than six months and €5,000 for a permanent contract, for hiring a person over 50. Check the number of hours, the contract start date, exclusions and the scheme's availability.

CSR initiative grant for accommodation and restaurants

The reference database indicates coverage of 80% of the price excluding tax of the support service, capped at €2,500, for tourist accommodation and table-service restaurant businesses meeting the location and annual opening criteria. Combining public grants is limited according to the regulations.

Responsible labelling/certification grant

The reference database provides for a pre-audit/support component capped at €150 and a labelling/certification component capped at €700, each covering 80% of the cost excluding tax. A business may apply for both components, once each, subject to the regulations in force.

Responsible tourism offer qualification grant

The reference database indicates coverage of 60% of the price excluding tax of the classification audit for furnished tourist accommodation, capped at €140 per application and applicant. An application may cover up to four furnished properties; the grant is limited to once per host.

Metropolitan scheme supporting local businesses

Subsidy of 20% of eligible expenses excluding tax, capped at €10,000. The rate is reduced to 10% in the event of regional co-financing. The scheme targets small retail, craft and service businesses with a sales outlet or itinerant activity, according to territorial priorities.

IMPACT +

The reference database indicates a subsidy of 80% of the price excluding tax of the support service, capped at €2,500, for businesses and associations within the territory. The exact nature of the support, exclusions and combination with other CSR or responsible tourism schemes must be checked.

Prêt d'honneur Initiative Clermont Auvergne Métropole

The reference database describes a personal honour loan with no interest or guarantee, generally ranging between €5,000 and €25,000, repayable over three to five years with a possible grace period. It is combined with support and generally with a bank loan; review falls to the Initiative operator.

How to submit an application

1. Define the project and identify the 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, registration documents, financial papers, 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 grants to 80% or 60% depending on the scheme. The Coup de pouce scheme can complement an honour loan. Rules vary: do not present the same expense to several funders without confirming the caps and combination rules. Applying beforehand 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 applicable on the date of the application prevail.

Is the FMEP open to already-established businesses?

The catalogue targets leaders of start-up or takeover projects established for less than one year in industrial or craft production. The exact conditions and the concept 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, CMA or Initiative, the partner may take part in the review or support process.

Check my eligibility for metropolitan grants

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

Check status

Partial check: nine grants from the master database documented. 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.