Witzenhausen moves out of business development - a fresh start expected!

Witzenhausen moves out of business development - a fresh start expected!

In a surprising turn, the city of Witzenhausen decided to leave the Werra-Meißner (WFG) business development agency on December 31, 2026. The unanimous decision of the city council is part of a comprehensive realignment of municipal business development, which was initiated by Mayor Lukas Sittel. The decision is in the context of structural changes that provide the integration of business development into the district administration and aim to simplify the process of funding acquisition and project coordination. Sittel emphasizes that this is not a departure from the economic development of the district and hopes for a positive further development of the Wfg.

The motives for this step are diverse. Critical voices from politics, including the Green Bertram Schäfer, said that not much has been received by the WFG's work in Witzenhausen. Several SPD mayors support the demand for savings instead of a re-occupation of the managing director position, which is currently also on the brink. The WFG welcomes the cooperation of the past few years, but regrets the resignation and still sees opportunities in the realignment.

opportunities for the future

The district administrator Nicole Rathgeber expresses that Witzenhausen's decision can be seen as an opportunity for the strategic reorientation of the WFG. While the shareholders' meeting decides to check the strategic direction of the WFG with an external consulting company, the search for a new managing director is temporarily suspended. This uncertainty could soon turn into new ideas and projects.

Economic development in the Werra-Meißner district still experiences an upswing. Plusnet GmbH starts to market in the Thuringian Straße industrial area with attractive conditions until the end of August 2025. There are also new funding programs that are particularly important for small and medium -sized companies as well as business founders. These programs offer grants of up to 45 % of the grant -capable expenditure with a minimum investment of 15,000 euros. The application for participation can be made since June 10, 2025, which is pleased with many locally based companies.

rules for regional business development agency

In the greater context of economic developments in Germany, the reform of the joint task "Improvement of the regional economic structure" (GRW) by Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Economic Minister Robert Habeck gave new impulses. This reform aims to adapt the funding conditions to the current challenges, especially with regard to climate neutrality by 2045 and demographic development. In the future, regional value chains and economic cycles will also be the focus of the funding. The new rules come into force on January 1, 2023 and open further perspectives for companies that want to integrate environmentally friendly measures into their business models.

Numerous companies in the Werra-Meißner district can benefit from these changes and are supported by various funding programs. The region, which counts over 100,000 inhabitants, offers a variety of leisure activities, cultural offers and a wide range of consulting services. Among other things, companies can obtain information on company succession and available training positions that are important to strengthen the local economy.

Overall, it can be seen that despite the announced exit from Witzenhausen from the WFG, the economy in the Werra-Meißner district is still well positioned. With targeted support measures and the commitment to sustainable business development, the region can take new opportunities and grow.