Département 61 - Orne

The Département de l'Orne, a funder of economic projects

The Département de l'Orne supports several types of economic projects: business property investments, development of business parks, growth of the tourism offer, and modernisation of retail and crafts in rural areas. The schemes differ depending on the project leader: a tourism business, a local shop, a craftsperson, an entrepreneur setting up, or a local authority developing a business park.

Scope of this guide

It distinguishes direct business grants from collective schemes or honour loans processed by an operator. The catalogue's ceilings are benchmarks: the rules, the territories covered and the application periods must be confirmed before any decision.

Business property: Orn'Immo

The Département states that Orn'Immo supports business property investments in intermunicipal bodies that have delegated the award of these grants to the Département. The amount depends on the investment and the prospects for creating permanent (CDI) jobs over three years; the minimum investment indicated on the institutional page is €150,000. It is necessary to check whether the relevant communauté de communes has signed an agreement and which rules apply.

Tourism: investment in accommodation

The Département has dedicated rules for hotels, outdoor hospitality (camping), bed and breakfasts, group gîtes (self-catering group lodges) and furnished tourist rentals. The catalogue fact sheets generally indicate a grant of 20% of eligible pre-tax expenses, with ceilings varying by type of accommodation. Classification, the status of the project owner, the nature of the works and the quality of the project determine eligibility.

Retail and crafts modernisation: OCM

Collective modernisation operations (OCM) support investment in retail, crafts and local services in rural areas. The Département co-finances operations led by territories or local partners, but the eligible area depends on the specific OCM. Some OCMs cover only a specific area and cannot be combined with other public grants.

Creation or takeover: OSE honour loan

Orne Solidaire par l'Entrepreneuriat (OSE) offers a personal, zero-interest honour loan, generally between €2,000 and €10,000, repayable over a maximum of 60 months, with a possible deferral. It targets jobseekers with a creation or takeover project intended to create their own job in the relevant area. This loan must be distinguished from a grant.

Hotel investment grant

The catalogue indicates a grant of 20% of the pre-tax amount of eligible expenses, capped at €30,000, for private project owners holding APE code 5510Z (hotels and similar accommodation). The departmental rules specify the works and conditions of intervention: confirm the expenses, timetable and classification required.

Outdoor hospitality (camping) investment grant

Grant indicated at 20% of eligible pre-tax expenses, capped at €20,000 for campsites and service areas and at €30,000 for a leisure residential park. The Département mentions a policy of support for the creation and modernisation of facilities, subject to conditions. Confirm the rules and eligibility of the works.

Bed and breakfast investment grant

Grant indicated at 20% of the pre-tax amount of works, capped at €15,000 per project, regardless of the number of rooms. The Département's rules and the Tourisme 61 contact allow confirmation of eligible works, quality obligations and application procedures.

Group gîte investment grant

The catalogue indicates a grant of 20% of eligible pre-tax expenses. For projects of 15 beds or more falling under ERP (public access building) rules, the indicated ceiling is €30,000 per gîte, limited to one project per operator. Check the ERP rules, capacity and the rules' requirements.

Furnished tourist rental or gîte investment grant

Grant indicated at 20% of eligible pre-tax expenses, capped at €15,000 per gîte, limited to two gîtes per operator or project. Confirm the definition of an eligible furnished rental, the expenses accepted, quality criteria and the need for prior approval.

Collective Modernisation Operation (OCM) — Pays d'Alençon

The catalogue indicates a grant of 20% to 30% of the pre-tax cost of the investment for craft, retail or service businesses in the Pays d'Alençon area, subject to size and activity conditions. The France Num fact sheet specifies that this grant cannot be combined with certain State, Normandie Region or Département grants. Check the active edition and the exact area.

Retail, Crafts and Services OCM

The catalogue indicates a rate of 25% of eligible expenses, which can reach 30% for certain locations in listed town centres and local hubs. The scheme targets businesses with at least one annual balance sheet and income statement, subject to the other criteria. The territorial scope and the managing body must be checked.

OSE honour loan (Orne Solidaire par l'Entrepreneuriat)

Personal, zero-interest honour loan of €2,000 to €10,000, depending on overall financing needs, repayable over a maximum of 60 months with a possible six-month deferral. Target: jobseekers creating or taking over an activity in order to create their own job in the covered area. Check the operator, the mentoring provided and the individual criteria.

How to identify the right scheme

1. Precisely locate the business or project in the Orne. 2. For business property, check that the intermunicipal body has signed an agreement with the Département and that the investment threshold is met. 3. For tourism, select the rules corresponding to the type of accommodation. 4. For OCM, confirm the geographic area and who is leading the operation. 5. For OSE, check jobseeker status and the territory of intervention. 6. Contact the relevant department before starting work or making investments.

Cumulation and timetable

OCMs may be subject to non-cumulation rules with other public grants. Tourism and property grants generally require a prior application and technical and financial supporting documents. A past funding decision does not prove that the scheme still accepts new applications: check the rules and available funding on the application date.

Can all businesses in the Orne apply for Orn'Immo?

No. The scheme is delegated by certain intermunicipal bodies that have adopted rules, and the project must in particular meet an investment threshold and employment criteria. The intermunicipal body's agreement and local rules must be checked.

Are tourism grants reserved for new creations?

Not necessarily. The Département offers grants for both creating and modernising accommodation, depending on the rules of each category. Eligible works and quality criteria must be confirmed with Tourisme 61.

Is the OSE loan a grant?

No. OSE is a personal, zero-interest honour loan that must be repaid. It can come with monitoring and support for the project leader.

Check the grants suited to my project in the Orne

Capital OS can help identify grants based on the territory, type of activity, investment and project stage. Before estimating a grant amount, ask for the applicable rules and confirmation of availability from the Département, Tourisme 61, the OCM manager or the OSE operator.

Verification status

Partial review: eight schemes from the master database are documented. The Département's official page describes Orn'Immo and the tourism grants; March 2026 news confirms recent economic awards. The two OCMs have distinct areas and must be linked to their exact territories/managers. Confirm the rules, funding and application timetables before presenting the schemes as open.