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Covenant of Mayors - Europe
  • News article
  • 10 February 2025

From idea to action: Tailored support to bring your city’s vision to life

Your city has a clear vision and a solid plan but bringing it to life feels just out of reach? We’re offering tailored, one-on-one support to help turn your plans into concrete actions – free of charge and in your language.

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Moving from planning to implementation is challenging, especially for small and mid-sized cities, but with the right support you don’t have to face it alone. 

It's time to overcome key challenges in your city

In collaboration with the Smart Cities Marketplace, we offer twenty days of free, tailored guidance to help you untangle obstacles and make progress in implementing concrete actions from your plan. Whether you’re facing legal barriers, governance issues, or gaps in business planning, our experts will guide you through your biggest challenges and help move your Action Plan forward. 

This service covers a range of essential areas, including: 

  • Planning support to assess legal frameworks, develop implementation roadmaps, and benchmark with peers
  • Investment concept development to strengthen your business case, explore financing options, and attract investors.
  • Stakeholder engagement strategies to gain citizen and business support and ensure inclusivity in project design. 

A path to success 

Take the example of Bydgoszcz, Poland, which used this support to develop a bankable clean mobility and hydrogen project. Their journey began with the city’s Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan, followed by a pre-feasibility study through the European City Facility. With help from the Smart Cities Marketplace, their vision evolved into a concrete project. 

Through this personalised support, Bydgoszcz aimed to establish 10 photovoltaic farms with a total capacity of approximately 40 megawatts (MW). The project also included the development of a cutting-edge hydrogen generation system, primarily designed to decarbonise the city's bus transportation network.

“Energy policy at the time of technological transformation and increasing demand should direct itself toward increasing the role of local government in building the capacity of distributed energy sources and increasing the role of energy self-sufficiency”. Tomasz Bońdos, Energy Manager in the City of Bydgoszcz.

Is your city ready to take action? 

Small and medium-sized cities and towns across the EU27 are invited to apply! Whether you've just a project idea or you’re experienced with public funding but need help moving forward, this tailored support is designed to fit cities at any stage of their journey. Check the eligibility criteria. 

This support can well complement the participation of your city or town in other EU initiatives.

Apply now by 23 may 2025! 

More information here.

Stay tuned for a dedicated info session in mid-March.   

Details

Publication date
10 February 2025