Issues
Rural areas are attracting an increasing number of people, yet they continue to face major challenges: regional inequalities, an aging population, a lack of economic opportunities, and limited access to services. Entrepreneurship, when rooted in local realities, serves as a powerful lever for addressing these issues and revitalizing rural areas.
Actions
Convinced that acting together and pooling resources allows us to achieve more, the Mirova Foundation is partnering with the *Territoires d’engagement* (Territories of Commitment) action collective—led by the Fondation de France and the Fondation Entreprendre—to co-finance eight winning projects from the “Amplifying the Entrepreneurial Response in Rural Areas” call for proposals, launched in September 2025. On March 25, 2026, the funders and winning organizations met at the Fondation de France headquarters to outline this new three-year program (2026–2028).
The program, led by the Fondation Entreprendre, aims to:
- Support the support organizations that foster an entrepreneurial spirit and assist project leaders in rural areas;
- Create favorable conditions for the development of sustainable entrepreneurial dynamics across all French rural areas.
Overview of the winning consort:
- ADIE, in collaboration with the Union des Couveuses
Through the project “Removing Barriers to Business Creation in Rural Areas,” Adie and business incubators (*couveuses d’entreprise*) are making entrepreneurship accessible to all rural residents, enabling them to earn a living from their skills and talents and create their own jobs locally. This entrepreneurial momentum contributes to the creation and long-term viability of essential local services.
Airelle, in collaboration with Université Rurale Quercy Rouergue, Figeacteurs, and La Fabrique du Limousin
The CARTE project aims to strengthen local entrepreneurship in the Aveyron, Lot, and Corrèze departments by fostering cooperation among stakeholders. It cultivates local dynamics, supports the emergence and sustainability of projects, and expands access to support services in rural areas to create a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem.
ATIS, in collaboration with France Active Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Atelier 209 ATIS
They are spearheading two projects that bridge local challenges with the desire to take action—whether entrepreneurial, civic, or collective. Together with France Active Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Eclosion (Atelier 2029), the organization is rolling out the “Acting and Starting a Business for the Region” (*Agir et Entreprendre pour le territoire*) program to support local entrepreneurs in rural areas and adapting its “idea generator” service to meet the specific needs of rural municipalities.
- CIAP 44, in collaboration with the CIAP network in the Pays de la Loire region
The project involving the six CIAP organizations in Pays de la Loire aims to facilitate and ensure the long-term viability of small-scale, independent farming enterprises across the region. It seeks to achieve this by consolidating and expanding support systems for starting or taking over farms, and by strengthening cooperative and local initiatives to assist aspiring entrepreneurs.
- CIVAM 31, in collaboration with Le 100e Singe
This incubator project for entrepreneurs in the living-systems sector aims to create economic activities linked to agroecology and nature-based professions in rural areas. It supports recently trained or qualified aspiring agricultural entrepreneurs who face barriers to setting up their businesses (such as access to land, a lack of entrepreneurial experience, isolation, or financing difficulties).
- CoCoShaker, in collaboration with France Active Auvergne
CoCoShaker and France Active Auvergne have joined forces to pursue a shared goal: addressing the challenges facing rural areas in Auvergne by fostering purpose-driven entrepreneurship. The aim of this partnership is to enhance efforts to identify and support project leaders; to assist in the creation, consolidation, development, or takeover of purpose-driven businesses; and to facilitate networking among local stakeholders across the region.
- Ronalpia, in collaboration with Innovales and Intermade
A partnership between three incubators based across two French regions—covering the entire French Alpine range—the Is’Alpes project aims to foster the development of social entrepreneurship in rural mountain areas as a response to the social and environmental challenges facing them. Is’Alpes will enable collaborative innovation in how action is taken within these mountain territories.
- Initiative France, in collaboration with local branches
Led by Initiative France, this project aims to improve access to financing for rural entrepreneurs, particularly in areas with limited support and funding resources. Five associations are piloting grassroots initiatives to facilitate access to unsecured business loans and bank financing. The methods used are being documented and shared to inspire other regions.
Keys figures
Our support
- Multi-year partnership (2026–2029)
- Co-financing
- Advocacy on these issues