In June, Pamela Chopy and Alexandre Pailhes, co-managers of the Peugeot-SARL Pailhes garage, on Avenue de l'Europe in Langeac, submitted an application to the Communauté de communes des Rives du Haut-Allier (CCRHA) for a subsidy from the FAEL 2021 local economy assistance fund.

The company had to make investments that met the requirements of the brand and accessibility standards for people with reduced mobility, as well as renovation and modernisation work.

The company obtained a grant of €8,000

"We have completely redone the outside asphalt", explains Pamela Chopy. We have completely redone the outside asphalt", explains Pamela Chopy, "As for the inside of the building, the work involved installing an automatic entrance door, insulation, the complete reorganisation of the public reception area and the creation of a new bathroom.For the interior of the building, this work involved installing an automatic entrance door, insulation, the complete reorganization of the public reception area and the creation of offices, lighting, the purchase of equipment for the workshop, etc. These necessary investments are in line with the development of our business."

The company obtained a grant of €8,000 net of tax from the FAEL, the maximum aid that can be allocated insofar as the total cost of the investment exceeded €80,000 (*) for this case.

The objective of the FAEL is to encourage investments by local entrepreneurs and business creators by optimising the departmental, regional and European support mechanisms. "The FAEL has a leverage effect: it can provide access to other aid, such as the European Leader aid fund," adds Joseph Laurent, agent in charge of economic development at the CCRHA. "The FAEL was created to support local economic dynamics, in accordance with the wishes of the territory's elected officials. In this sense, the aid granted to the garage fully meets these objectives.

Since the work was carried out, the Langeado company has hired a sales manager and its eight employees have seen their working conditions improved.

"The application for a grant is easy and the response quick," says Pamela Chopy. "And, for the first time, EDF reimbursed us, at the end of the year, 500 on our electricity bill!