Rural Commerce Support Fund
For a fixed shop, the fund can cover 50% of the property operation deficit up to €50,000, then 50% of fit-out and equipment costs up to €20,000, with a €5,000 bonus for exemplary projects meeting the criteria. For mobile shops, the grant can cover 50% of investment up to €20,000. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the budget is used up.
The ANCT’s (national agency for territorial cohesion) Rural Retail Support Fund (Fonds de soutien au commerce rural) aims to maintain local shops in rural municipalities with no shop or whose offer no longer meets basic needs. It supports setting up multi-service fixed shops and mobile shops, subject to territorial and economic conditions.
Funded by Ministère de l’Economie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté Industrielle, Energétique et Numérique
Run a personalised scan to identify the public grants and funding your company may be able to access.
Who can apply
Public or private project owners. For the fixed-shop property strand, the aid is for local authorities, local public companies and SCIC cooperatives or their subsidiaries. Private applicants must have the formal support of the host municipality. The project may be led by a future operator or a property owner depending on the costs.
Eligibility conditions
The project must meet a local need for basic goods and be located in a rural municipality without a suitable shop. The median car journey to the nearest shop is around ten minutes. Multi-service shops must offer several services. Operating costs and stock are excluded.
What the scheme covers
Eligible items include in particular buying premises and renovation works, fit-out, professional equipment or the vehicle for a mobile round. Total public grants for fit-out and equipment are capped at 80% of costs.
Amount and funding terms
Fixed shop: 50% of the property deficit, capped at €50,000 (grant reserved for public/semi-public applicants or SCIC cooperatives); fit-out and equipment: 50% of costs, capped at €20,000, with a possible €5,000 bonus. Mobile shop: 50% of investment costs, capped at €20,000. Support services: up to €5,000 subject to approval. Caps and combination rules differ by strand.
How to apply
Prepare a feasibility study demonstrating the unmet need and economic viability, draw up a provisional balance sheet and obtain the municipality’s support if the applicant is private. Submit the application on the platform indicated by the ANCT; the prefecture reviews applications and sends them to the technical committee.
Timeline
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the available budget is used up. The absence of a fixed deadline therefore does not guarantee that funds are available when you apply.
Key facts
- Funder
- Ministère de l’Economie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté Industrielle, Energétique et Numérique
- Type of funding
- Grant
- Status
- Ongoing
- Maximum amount
- €50,000
- Automatically extracted — check the official source
- Funding rate
- 50%
- Automatically extracted — check the official source
- Geographic scope
- All of France
Frequently asked questions
Can a shopkeeper fund the purchase of premises?
The property strand is reserved for local authorities, local public companies and SCIC cooperatives or their subsidiaries. The future operator can apply for the fit-out/equipment strands under the conditions.
Does the fund finance mobile shops?
Yes, up to 50% of investment, capped at €20,000, subject to the scheme’s criteria.
Are applications open all year?
They are reviewed on a rolling basis until the budget is used up.
Official source
No official URL is available in our data for this grant.
Other grants of type “grant”
Other grants from Ministère de l’Economie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté Industrielle, Energétique et Numérique
Aid for works on private property to connect to a fibre-optic network
Ministère de l’Economie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté Industrielle, Energétique et Numérique
Up to €1,200
CODEFI and CIRI: support for companies in difficulty
Ministère de l’Economie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté Industrielle, Energétique et Numérique
Related needs and funding
Competitive calls for projects
Ecological transition and CSR
Capital and investment funds
Support and acceleration
Diagnostics and audits
Takeover and transfer
Discover the funding that fits your company
Check your eligibility for public grants
This scheme is only one of the grants your company may be able to access. Run a personalised scan to identify the funding opportunities that match your activity, location and project.
See the opportunities identified by the scan, then access your personalised report.