Telemark Utviklingsfonds støtteordning

This entry is filled directly from Telemark utviklingsfond's (TUF) own website, telemarkutviklingsfond.no.

TUF states its purpose as: "Fondet skal være et virkemiddel for å skape og underbygge en positiv befolkningsutvikling og næringsutvikling i alle deler av Telemark Fylke" — the fund is to be an instrument for creating and supporting positive population and business development in all parts of Telemark county, with particular emphasis on economically weak municipalities and areas experiencing population decline. The application-guidance page (Om å søke) phrases the aim as: "Fondets hensikt er å støtte prosjekter og tiltak som fører til positiv utvikling i Telemark" — the fund's purpose is to support projects and measures that lead to positive development in Telemark.

The fund's capital derives from the annual surplus revenue of regional hydroelectric concession rights from eight municipalities: Fyresdal, Hjartdal, Kviteseid, Nissedal, Seljord, Tinn, Tokke and Vinje. (No specific total fund capital is stated on the site.)

On the funding terms, TUF prints two concrete limits. The support share is capped relative to project cost: "Støtteandel fra TUF kan maksimalt utgjøre 35% av total prosjektkostnad" — support from TUF may amount to at most 35% of total project cost, and the site notes that combined public support should likewise not exceed this share, with a minimum of 50% private co-financing required. For applicants' own labour, "TUF godkjenner en sats på maksimalt kr 700,- pr time for eget arbeid" — TUF approves a maximum rate of NOK 700 per hour for own work. The site describes the support forms as grants (assessed against state-aid rules), loans (at Nibor rate plus a fixed margin) and, in special cases, equity participation. It lists exclusions: the fund does not support ongoing operations (drift), salaried positions, housing projects, sports facilities or entertainment ventures.

At the time of fetching, the homepage lists two strands — Næringsutvikling (business development) and Tilskuddsordning nye energiprosjekter (support scheme for new energy projects) — each marked "Åpen søknadsfrist kommer" (an open application deadline is coming). No fixed deadline date is printed, so the application mode is recorded as unknown.

Applications are submitted via regionalforvaltning.no, where the form requires application information, contact details, descriptions/specifications, budget/financing, geography/municipality selection, and attachments. The contact listed is Audun Mogen (audun.mogen@vtfk.no, tel. 91388396).