Re-growCity

Tackling long term decline in smaller cities

Edited on 22/07/2025

04/04/2018 06/04/2021

Closed
  • Transfer Network
  • Participative governance

Re-growCity Transfer network focuses on the development of interventions that built on local capabilities to arrest and reverse long term social, economic and environmental decline. Altena has a track record of recognised good practices that facilitate the development of sustainable initiatives with a minimum of external resource input. This network will support partners to revitalise public services and the economy, regenerate the urban fabric and develop civil society in a context of long term decline.

 

Summary

Partners

Lead Partner : Altena - Germany
  • Aluksne - Latvia
  • Idrija - Slovenia
  • Igoumenitsa - Greece
  • Isernia - Italy
  • Manresa - Spain
  • Melgaço - Portugal
  • Nyírbátor - Hungary

Timeline

Kick-off meeting

Stories

  • BluAct - Starting Up the Blue Economy

    BluAct network initiated its works during Spring of 2018, and has been awarded with the EEPA 2018 “Promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit” award. Phase

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    Angelos Ploumis

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  • Find the courage to start implementing innovative solutions for our own city! A story from Salerno, Italy.

    The suggestion I can give to the other European cities from this experience is: being in contact with cities that have already made successful

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    Angelos Ploumis

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  • Transfer Story: Galati Romania

    The Municipality built a strong URBACT Local Group, comprising members from Universities, the River Authority, NGO’s, public bodies and port-based

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    Angelos Ploumis

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Articles

  • Articles
    charity run

    “Gazdagréti Ünnepelő” - Preparing for the holidays together in Gazdagrét A Month of Community, Creativity, and Celebration in Újbuda

    Between 28 November and 20 December 2025, Gazdagrét came alive with Gazdagréti Ünnepelő – preparing for the holidays together, a vibrant Testing Action within the RECUP project. What began as more

    Fanni Kosztolányi

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  • Articles
    Alicia_MNH

    Voices from the stage: Interview with Alicia Piquer, deputy mayor of Rafelbunyol

    The URBACT RECUP Network continues its journey across Europe, collecting stories, insights, and lived experiences from cities committed to strengthening local communities.

    Fanni Kosztolányi

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  • Articles
    group photo in dublin

    II Quarterly Network Journal: A Deep Dive into the RECUP Network’s Season of Experimentation

    Across Europe, cities are asking themselves a fundamental question: what if culture were treated not as an “extra,” but as essential urban infrastructure?
    Infrastructure that can fight loneliness

    Fanni Kosztolányi

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Related content

URBACT stories

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    These local actions for community participation and productivity are inspiring cities across the EU. Could they work in yours too?

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    How to accelerate cities’ transition to the circular economy

    Cities can be pioneers in the path towards the circular economy through the creation and demonstration of new business models.

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Additionnal activities

  • Finding opportunities in declining cities

    Working with civil society to reverse decline in small and medium sized towns

    See more