Economy and tourism

The "Program for the co-financing of regional model projects and cooperation in the field of economic and tourism promotion" has enabled 40 inter-municipal and model projects to be implemented since 2014. In May 2025, the Committee for Economy, Infrastructure and Administration decided to convert the program, meaning that a decision on the allocation of co-financing funds within the previous framework will be made for the last time in November 2025.

Until the deadline of July 18, 2025, projects could be submitted for the last time to apply for co-financing funds within the previous framework. The Committee for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure and Administration will decide on the jury's recommendation for the allocation of co-financing funds for this final funding round on 26.11.2025.

The following three projects were awarded co-financing by the Committee for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure and Administration in October 2024:

• SB-Hofladen (98.000 euros in funding)
  • Participants: Technical College for Agriculture (FSL), Böblingen District Office; other stakeholders: Agricultural businesses, Herrenberg-Leonberg Association for Agricultural Education, City of Herrenberg
  • Project: Development of a central farm store to enable the population to buy regional products 24/7. From the concept to the operation, everything is developed by the students of the technical college: Selecting, procuring and setting up the self-service store, working out the basics and concept for stocking products (own and complementary), logistics, cold chains etc., the operating and marketing concept is developed in parallel and a cooperative is founded
  • More information
• Swabian Forest hiking region (103,500 euros in funding)
  • Participants: Rems-Murr-Kreis district administration office (business and tourism department) and Schwäbischer Wald Tourismus e.V.; other stakeholders: nature park guide and forest warden Walter Hieber, Prof. Dr. Manfred Krautter, municipalities in the Swabian Forest, German Hiking Institute, Regio Stuttgart Marketing- und Tourismus GmbH, Naturpark Schwäbisch-Fränkischer Wald e.V., Naturpark Schwäbisch-Fränkischer Wald e.V.
  • Project: Development and establishment of the "Swabian Forest Hiking Region". The measures and tasks extend far beyond the trail infrastructure and include gastronomy, accommodation providers and direct marketers. A public transport concept is also part of this. Through close cooperation, direct consultation and intensive communication on site, the joint brand orientation under the heading "hiker-friendly hosts" is to be achieved, thereby strengthening inter-communal cooperation.
• Joint tourism concept and information for Beuren/Neuffen (15,000 euros funding)
  • Participants: Municipality of Beuren and town of Neuffen, other stakeholders: Beuren thermal baths, Beuren open-air museum
  • Project: Joint development and marketing of the region's tourism USPs on the basis of a joint tourism concept and by pooling personnel capacities. Development and implementation of joint tourism information.

The following three projects were awarded co-financing by the Committee for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure and Administration in October 2023

• Inter-municipal start-up grant+ as part of the MachES network (105.000 euros in funding)
  • Participants: City of Filderstadt (Department of Economics and Marketing), City of Kirchheim u.T. (Office of Economic Development), City of Nürtingen (Office of Real Estate, Economic Development and Citizen Participation) and City of Esslingen am Neckar (Office of Economic Development and Esslingen Stadtmarketing und Tourismus GmbH).
  • Project: Financial support and strengthening of services for start-ups in the four municipalities according to uniform funding criteria. The aim is not only to increase the innovative strength and attractiveness of the joint project area, but also to reduce commercial vacancies and underutilization in the district centers and business parks.
• Mobile tourist information for the Bottwartal (29,075.20 euros in funding)
  • Participants: Marbach Bottwartal tourism association, 8 member municipalities
  • Project: Acquisition and equipping of an electric vehicle with appropriate marketing materials for joint permanent use as a flexible tourist information and tasting station by the Bottwartal municipalities and at supra-regional events/fairs such as the CMT.
• Cycle route along the "architecture stations" from the Remstal Garden Show with digital tour book (16,250 euros funding)
  • Participants: Remstal Tourismus e.V.
  • Project: Development of a themed cycle route along the architecture stations in the Rems Valley, including digital features and a reward system. The themed route from the Remstal Garden Show is to be enhanced and marketed by linking it with regional offers and producers (wine, gastronomy, culture).

The decision by the Committee for Economy, Infrastructure and Administration in 2014 marked the launch of the "Co-financing program for inter-municipal model projects in the area of economic and tourism promotion". Up to and including 2022, 34 projects have been funded, all of which will run beyond the funding period and are therefore sustainable. This record clearly exceeds initial expectations. The variety of projects ranges from premium walking trails and the marketing of regional products to an economic dashboard and a start-up district. Find out more about the exciting projects, clustered according to content focus:

To the overview of the projects and programs of the Verband Region Stuttgart