The economic development department of Surgères' Communauté de Communes is dedicated to welcome and facilitate the setting up and the development of companies.

On this account, the economic development includes :

• land planning
• landscaping and selling of the business zones
• welcoming, guiding, orientating of companies wishing to set up in the area
• Aid for business creation and acquisition
• Guiding of existing companies wishing to develop

This department is part of the global scheme for economic development through guidance towards industry, small businesses and shops.

Contacting this department, you will benefit from :

• personalised guidance
• help in adapting to your needs
• orientation and follow-up
• network related to all the agents of the economic development

Whatever your profile is, you wish to create your job through the starting-up or the acquisition of a business, the Economic Development Department gives you a personalised guidance.

This guidance is part of the regional measure called " l'Atelier de la Création " (The creation workshop) started by the Conseil Régional de Poitou-Charentes. « l'Atelier de la Création » helps you turning an idea into the achievement of your project in the best possible conditions.

In partnership with every agent of the economic development, The House of Economy for the small region (Maison de l'économie du Pays d'Aunis), based in Saint-Sauveur-d'Aunis, is in charge of the organisation and the running of this plan for the 4 Communautés de Communes of the Pays d'Aunis (Marans, Courçon, Plaine d'Aunis et Surgères). The « Atelier de la Création » constitutes the link for every budding entrepreneur before and after the starting-up or acquisition of a company.

In 2007, more than 250 entrepreneurs have been welcomed and guided by the « Atelier de la Création » of the House of Economy. Some of them have received financial aid for the execution of their project. This grant is the Bourse Tremplin pour l'Emploi («Employment Springboard Grant»).

Moreover, the beneficiaries of this Bourse Tremplin pour l'Emploi can get the TIC cheque (up to 500 euros).

In real terms, this cheque gives the possibility to train for website creation, its referencing on internet as well as its web hosting.

Surgères' Communauté de Communes has signed an agreement with the Conseil Regional Poitou-Charentes which makes it the «only entrance door» for public aid plans for companies on its area.

In real terms, the Economic Development Department of Surgères' Communauté de Communes welcomes companies and entrepreneurs asking for grants and guides them in the building up of their grant application form.

Thanks to this partnership, companies have :

• a better comprehension of grant measures
• a community service (an only interlocutor)
• a personalised guidance

Several different grants designed for economic development exist :

• - l'aide à la création et au développement (CORDEE) (starting-up and development grant )
• - l'aide à la formation (CORDEFOP) (further education grant)
• l'aide à l'export (CORDEX) (export branch grant)

The Economic Development Department of Surgères' Communauté de Communes proposes to guide you to define your needs using the most adapted means suitable for your project.

To prepare our first meeting, you may already download the DUO(Dossier Unique d'Orientation = Only orientation file).