City policy: Agresti-Roubache wants to bring private investment back into neighborhoods

Of the 640 million euros budget planned for 2024 for the City, Bercy announced a cut of 49 million which will require 16 million euros in savings if we take into account the 33 million credits put in reserve.

“Certain schemes have cash flow and we can therefore reduce the payments that were planned without calling into question the actions carried out, but I protect urban renovation programs and city contracts,” Ms. Agresti-Roubache told AFP. .

The new city contracts, which define the orientations of city policy in the 1.362 priority districts (QPV) of the metropolis until 2030, must be signed between prefectures and communities by March 31.

Their budget will be increased by 4 million euros, to 432,5 million, to take into account the arrival of 240.000 additional residents in the new QPV zoning which came into force on January 1.

“City contracts can be signed with all the forces present in the territory and in particular private actors. I wanted an investment component to bring the private sector also into priority districts,” indicated the secretary of State.

The government will also present a bill by the end of the year to review the urban free zones (ZFU) system, created in 1996, which provides tax exemptions for companies established in these zones.

“Only 187 of the 1.362 QPVs are covered by ZFUs. I consider that this is not satisfactory and that we must absolutely review all their criteria, particularly zoning, to encourage the establishment of businesses in the QPVs” , declared Ms. Agresti-Roubache, who wants to revitalize city centers.

The Secretary of State also intends to professionalize the "adult relay" mediation system, endowed with 98 million euros, to train mediators in the fight against radicalization, sectarian abuses and the prevention of delinquency.

The “educational cities” program, allocated 2023 million euros in 69 to strengthen educational support for students and young people, will also increase to 29 million in 2024 to allow their generalization.

On the associative side, an envelope of 10 million euros per year will also be released for 2024-2026 on condition of supporting projects of "national scope" particularly in the ecological transition, food, sport or culture.