Brussels, 19/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - Urban renewal, energy efficiency, renewable energy and cluster development are the focus of the JESSICA Holding Fund established in Poland's Mazowieckie region last Friday. The Fund will make use of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
An agreement signed on 15 July with the Mazowieckie region establishes a JESSICA Holding Fund for investment in economically deprived urban areas across the region. The fund will redevelop disused military bases and industrial areas, as well as regenerate town centres and residential districts. It will also support energy efficiency, renewable energy and cluster development projects in cities and towns of the region. Initially, €40 million will be invested by the Mazowieckie region, of which approximately €34 million is from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and €6 million from national funding.
This is the 5th JESSICA Holding Fund established in Poland and the 17th in the EU. In 2009, the Wielkopolska region in Poland was the first region in the European Union to establish such a fund. There are also JESSICA Holding Funds operating in the West Pomerania, Pomerania and Silesia regions of Poland. (O.L./transl.jl)