The structural aid fund that the state set up for Salzgitter in 2019 has now been used up to 86 cents. "Support that was urgently needed to overcome the many challenges facing Salzgitter and to ensure social peace," emphasizes Mayor Frank Klingebiel.
State Commissioner Dr. Ulrike Witt emphasizes: "The state is not leaving Salzgitter in the lurch. Since 2019, a total of 50 million euros in state funds have flowed into Salzgitter through structural aid alone. This has enabled the city to make important and future-oriented investments. I am very pleased to now be able to issue a decision for 10.8 million euros, which will be used for the refurbishment of apartments in the east-west housing estate in Salzgitter-Bad. This is a very important step towards tackling the major problems in the neighborhood."
Mayor Frank Klingebiel received the decision directly on site:
"This neighborhood presents us with major challenges, but I am confident that we will overcome them - even if we need a lot of staying power. As a first step, we bought apartments in Rheinstrasse and Engerode Strasse and are now also an important active player in the east-west development. This was an essential prerequisite for being able to take the second step: The many small, awkwardly designed, often not modernized and poorly equipped apartments ultimately led to high vacancy rates or critical occupancy rates. This development can only be counteracted if visible modernization and refurbishment measures are carried out, and these cost money. With the approved 10.8 million euros in structural aid and our own contribution of 1.1 million euros, we are not only investing in this residential area by upgrading the apartments, but also in our future in the long term!"
Head of Department Astrid Paus from the Office for Regional Development, who presented the decision, agrees with this view:
"With the funding from the state of Lower Saxony, refurbishment work will begin on 39 houses. 146 apartments can already benefit from this as a first step.
It is not just the renovation of the building fabric. It is an investment in a residential area worth living in.
Especially in light of the recent negative reports, the state of Lower Saxony and the city of Salzgitter are jointly sending a strong signal for a better future for the neighborhood with good social interaction."
Background:
In 2019, on the initiative of Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel, which was strongly supported by members of the state parliament Stefan Klein, Marcus Bosse, Dirk Toepffer and Christophe Plett, the state of Lower Saxony launched a special structural aid program for Salzgitter with a total of 50 million euros to support the city of Salzgitter in mastering the necessary and complex structural change. The structural aid is divided into three areas: 'Education and social integration', 'Urban development needs' and 'Economic structural change'.
In detail:
Pillar I: 26.6 million euros for the construction of two daycare centers and elementary school in Lichtenberg and Salzgitter-Bad
Pillar II: €15.6 million for the purchase and refurbishment of apartments in the East-West housing estate
Pillar III: around 8 million euros for economic transformation projects