Commercial service

Approved grants can be given to those who operate a grocery store or fuel station in sparsely populated/rural areas, as a rule only to the so-called last store. In the regional service program 2024-2030 there is information about the priorities in our county.

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Utveckling av regionalt servicearbete

The support of funds within commercial services is now divided into four parts

Investment grants

Investment grants can be applied for investments in commercial services in rural areas and aim to ensure that local services in rural areas can be maintained and developed.

Investment grants can be granted for:

• Acquisition, new construction, extension, or renovation of premises. Upgrading or repair of premises can also be eligible.
• Interior design and equipment needed for the business.
• Competence-raising initiatives or the development of action plans.
• Investment grants can be granted at 50 percent of the approved costs.

A grant of up to 85 percent can be provided if needed to grocery stores in high-priority locations, provided there are special reasons. Region Västernorrland's definition of special reasons is as follows:

• For larger new construction, extension, or renovation.
• Major repairs to premises necessary for the business.
• Investments in equipment and premises that are essential for the store's operations or support its function as a hub and meeting place.
• Investments in partially unmanned hybrid stores for extended opening hours, but not fully unmanned stores.
• Investments for energy-saving purposes.
• Competence development linked to increased profitability and expanded functionality.
• Consultancy assistance for the development of action plans.

Service grants

Service grants can be approved in the event of temporary problems of profitability. Grants are only provided if there are special reasons and other measures have been tried, but not proven to be sufficient. If a grant is approved, applicants must draw up an action plan with measures in order to improve profitability.

Grants are approved with a maximum of SEK 350,000 per year. If applicants have a well-established range of basic service functions or from service strategic reasons are deemed significant, a grant of SEK 350,000 can be approved.

The grant is applied for one year at a time and can be portioned out to the company for a maximum of three years.

Special grants for operation

Support can be granted to points of sale which have a versatile range of daily goods and meet the following requirements:

• Is more than 10 km from another point of sale which carries a diverse range of daily goods. Or in an archipelago area without a fixed link to the mainland.
• Conducted in permanent premises and is open all year round.
• Net turnover for daily goods not exceeding SEK 11 million for the annual year.
• As a condition of the grant, the recipient of the grant must undertake to perform a service of general economic interest. The terms are set out in the decision and consist of a range of goods to be provided and the number of hours the point of sale must keep open per week.
• The grant is provided with a maximum of SEK 350,000, but is calculated based on the point of sale's net turnover of daily goods for the last year.

Grants for home delivery

Managed by the municipalities and the storekeeper is reimbursed by the municipality. So please contact the municipality for information about rules and possible grants in your particular municipality.

Grants for home delivery implies that the municipalities can receive grants for home delivery (carried out by the store) of daily goods to households which have long distances and lack the means to get to the store.

How to apply for grants?

The grant you apply via the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth e-service "My application”

Decisions on grants for commercial services are made according to SFS 2024:1243

Contact Us

If you should have any questions about the grant, please contact us. 

Send an email to: tillvaxt@rvn.se