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€5bn to help economy in small towns
New government plan aims to fund housing developments and create new jobs
The government has unveiled a €5bn plan to boost the economies of France’s small and medium-sized towns.
Territorial cohesion minister Jacques Mézard said the towns, which are home to almost a quarter of the population (23%), provide 26% of the country’s jobs and have an ‘‘essential role to play in the French economy’’.
A fifth of the fund for the five-year Action cœur de ville campaign will be used to improve housing in rundown towns. The rest will be used to fund a range of schemes including cutting unemployment particularly among young people, boosting healthcare and improving town centres by introducing new rules for out-of-town businesses.
