This year, for the first time, Valmiera Municipality Government organized a call for projects”Supporting the development of entrepreneurship in publicly accessible historically significant sites in Valmiera Region”. The aim of the contest is to support entrepreneurs whose activities contribute to the sustainable preservation of historically significant sites, restore, or maintain the historic environment.
The contest was open to companies operating in historically significant sites – cultural monuments of national, regional, and local significance according to the list of the National Heritage Board published on the website mantojums.lv/cultural-objects, as well as other sites of justified and described by the applicant historical, scientific, artistic, or other cultural value.
The municipality received four applications with a total funding request of EUR 37 887. The municipality’s budget for the competition in 2024 was EUR 30 000. The maximum amount of support per project is EUR 10 000, which, according to the regulations, must be used for the conservation and improvement of the historically important site.
According to the decision of the Evaluation Committee, the municipality will fund three projects:
- Technical survey of the building of the Āža pub and elaboration of a construction project for the stable part”, submitted by the New Mazsalaca Association. The plan is to carry out a technical survey of the building of the Āža pub in Mazsalaca, to develop a construction project for the stable part and a plan for the renovation of the wooden structures with the aim of creating a multifunctional stable hall. Once the project is completed, it is planned to organise various types of events – public, private, entertainment and educational.
- Leduspagrabi applicant “Bauņu sēta” Ltd. The aim of the project is to renovate one of the basement rooms and to solve ventilation problems. The rooms will be used for tours and drink tastings. Leduspagrabi is located in the protected zone of the cultural monument of regional importance “Naukšēnu Manor House”.
- Conservation works on the building of cultural heritage at 7A Ezera Street, Burtnieki (‘Ratnīcas’)”, submitted by Linda Krieva. The building has the status of a cultural monument of national importance. The conservation work consists of removing the existing roof, strengthening the masonry, reinforcing the masonry and concreting the top of the masonry to reduce the impact of rain on the masonry. The building is to be used for tourism and accommodation related commercial activities. As the building has not been managed for a long time, its technical condition is environmentally degrading. The building is located on the shore of Lake Burtnieks. The implementation of the project would be an important step in the process of renovation of the buildings of the manor complex.
The aid intensity of the project is 80% of the eligible costs. The financial support from the municipality will be granted as de minimis operating aid in accordance with the European Commission’s rules.
