Vichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19 - Vichy Economie
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Vichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19
Vichy Communauté, a very attractive territory!
Involving all the 39 communes (urban or rural districts) in the
conurbation, the project for the future is based on a number of strategic
and important issues which will reinforce the attractiveness of the Vichy
Communauté territory.
One of the most important challenges we face is the physical
attractiveness of the conurbation as a demographic characteristic.
Attracting and welcoming new populations is one of our priorities.
Experience shows that this is mostly achieved with students and working
adults who arrive, with the potential of settling down and staying.
Whereas the peri-urban communes, those between the suburbs and the
countryside, like Charmeil and Creuzier-le-Vieux, and those even further
out, like Espinasse-Vozelle and Hauterive, have seen the vitality of their
communities improve with new inhabitants, the centre of Vichy, and its
adjacent communes, seem to stagnate in terms of population growth. The
Frédéric Aguilera eastern fringe of the territory and the 'Montagne Bourbonnaise' must
Mayor of Vichy also benefit from any stimulation package organised by the conurbation.
President of Vichy Communauté
1st Vice President of the County Such renewed activity can also be achieved via the tourist appeal and
Council (Département) attractiveness of the spa town of Vichy, at the heart of the conurbation.
Its added value contributes to the reputation of our territory as a whole,
particularly since Vichy's candidature, with ten other spa towns in Europe, for registration in 2020 in the
UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.
Whether it is the completion of the Urban Boulevard ring road, or the improvements to be made to the
'Boucle des Isles' area upstream on the Bellerive side of the river, these major development projects will
benefit the local economy and transform the face of our conurbation. Such positive visibility will also be
enhanced by the conurbation's sporting excellence platform, with the renovation of certain sites already
started.
Furthermore, given the conurbation's remarkable architectural and natural heritage, the aim is to become
an exemplary site in terms of ecology. By 2020 a 'soft' transport policy will have been put in place to travel
to the urban centre to work, or to go out into the countryside by following new footpaths and the green way
along the River Allier.
As of September 2018 four electric buses will be in service on the main bus route of the conurbation's
Mobivie Network. Vichy Communauté is the first conurbation in France to have large capacity, 100% electric
buses running a service 7 days a week, and the conurbation has already been awarded the French label of
TEPOS (territoire à énergie positive) as a positive energy territory.
The conurbation is also involved in a responsible coordinated approach to food production and
consumption, under the umbrella of a government sponsored PAT (Projet Alimentaire Territorial-territorial
food project). Local agricultural and food production is analysed and compared with local requirements,
taking into consideration socio-economic, environmental and health benefits and constraints. The object
being to provide a sustainable food chain available to everyone. Vichy Communauté was one of the
laureates given the award at the National Agricultural Trade Fair in 2018.
These are a few examples of the sustainable progress made in our territory, respecting nature and at the
same time providing benefits to the local economy.
Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.com
Vichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19
VICHY COMMUNAUTE, 2nd LARGEST INDUSTRIAL AREA IN THE AUVERGNE REGION
39
communes/ covering 85,000
urban and rural 742 km² inhabitants
districts
31,000 2,300
www.vichy-communaute.fr jobs students
As the second largest conurbation in the Auvergne region in terms of number of inhabitants, Vichy
Communauté also comes in second place behind Clermont Métropole in terms of the diversity of economic
activities in its territory.
Concerning the size of its employment catchment area, its 133,300 inhabitants represent 39% of the
population of the Allier Departement (county) and 1.7% of the enlarged Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region.
Industry represents 8% of the economic activity in the conurbation, a figure similar to that of the enlarged
Region. The Construction sector provides 15% of the jobs, compared with 14% in the enlarged Region.
To illustrate the importance we give to our economy, the Vichy Communauté 2018 New Year's Greetings
ceremony was held in the Renova factory at Saint-Yorre. The Portuguese Renova Group produces paper
consumption goods, and chose to create its European market development base in the conurbation.
Doing even more together, but differently
« A symbol of public-private partnership and a local link between the public and private sectors, Vichy
Communauté Développement, the conurbation's economic development agency, supports local project
initiators and businesses, thereby playing a major role in the promotion of the territory.»
As President of the agency's new Strategic Orientation Committee, Frédéric Aguilera is looking to « work
hand in hand with all the actors concerned ».
François Ligier, President of the Ligier Group (automobiles) based in the conurbation, was elected President
of the Economic Development Agency in 2018. The agency
was created in 1989.
« We must be capable of attracting not only new businesses
but also a workforce which is adapted to local needs, in a
territory where actors help one another.»
In order « to support the current movement of social
transformation », this synergy must also support the
ambitions of « a territory of tourism, thermalism spa activities
and industry.»
As a young and acknowledged captain of industry and an emblematic actor in the economy of his territory,
François Ligier illustrates the renewed desire of Vichy Communauté to become fully involved in the
economic development of the conurbation, which is a determining factor in global attractiveness.
Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.com
Vichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19 There are also businesses which are successful in the international market Vichy Communauté is home to industrial skills in plastics processing (CTL Packaging, Zeller Plastik France), metal working and mechanical engineering (Valmont, Sermeto, CGR, Drahtzug Stein, Forges des Margerides, Peinta,…), and agro-foodstuffs (Arrivée Auvergne, Sicaba, Convivial, Société Commerciale des eaux du Bassin de Vichy). As well as in the luxury goods sector (the Fleurus Group and Sofama for leather goods), the service industry (Satel), transport and logistics (Transports Thevenet, Caillot, Perrenot Bonnafoux), and construction (Planche, SAEM), to only mention a few. After substantial development when the Group was run by its founder Guy Ligier, during the '80s they moved into the production of 'Véhicules Sans Permis' (VSP) small two-seater cars that anyone aged 14 or over can take out on the road with as little as four hours' experience behind the wheel, and no drivers licence. Permanent innovation is the driving force behind the Ligier Group, the European market leader in light quadricycle four wheeled microcars. Succeeding his father Philippe, who, in 2008 had bought their major competitor Microcar, based in the Loire- Atlantique region of France, François Ligier became the head of the family business in 2013, with the aim of continuously developing their product lines. In April 2018, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Entreprises awarded the group with an Industry Ambition for the Future trophy for their latest Ligier. Named the EZ10, this driverless electric vehicle can carry up to 12 passengers over short distances. The NSE Group, whose Head Office is at Nizerolles in the Montagne Bourbonnaise, is one of the major industrial groups in the Vichy Communauté conurbation. Living proof, if it was needed, that you can have success in the international markets while still having your base in a rural area, as did François Lacoste who created the company in 1983. Specialising in the design, production and maintenance of electronic equipment, NSE is principally involved with civil aeronautics, defence, industry, railways and computers. With ten sites in France, five of which are in the Auvergne region at Nizerolles, Abrest, Aulnat, Riom, and Varennes-sur-Allier, NSE has over 500 employees in the country. A further 300 people work in their foreign subsidiaries in Hungary, Canada, Brazil, Morocco and India which represent 36% of the Group's Turnover; targeted to be 50% by 2020. Safran has become the 3rd largest non-aircraft manufacturer aeronautics group in the world after they purchased Zodiac Aerospace. They now own 10 companies including Safran Electrical & Power, the world leader in aeronautical electrics systems and a specialist in cabling and wiring for control panels and other onboard systems, particularly for Airbus, the Rafale fighter aircraft and the Ariane European civilian expendable launch vehicle for space launch use. Their site at Charmeil (Ex Labinal) has more than 200 employees. Since 2016 maintenance and repair work have been added to their initial production activities. The high precision work undertaken in their workshops requires a high level of responsiveness in order to react to the expectations and requirements of a technology sector at the cutting edge of innovation. Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.com
Vichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19
It is now half a century ago that the L’Oréal factory at Vichy-Rhue was created near to their
water springs, supplied by the volcanoes in the Auvergne.
« Our expertise in face and body care treatments is recognised everywhere. Today we want to
become THE worldwide reference site in terms of using thermal water cosmetics. »
Appointed in November 2017 at the head of Cosmétique Active Production (CAP), Jean-
Yves Larraufie affirms his legitimate ambitions for one of the major divisions of the
L’Oréal Group. Sun creams and other dermocosmetic treatments are produced and
packaged in conformance with the requirements of European ISO, the American
FDA, the Canadian OTC and the Australian TGA. Even if France remains the main customer for CAP, the
International Distribution Centre opened at Creuzier-le-Vieux in 2003 dispatches products throughout the
whole world.
Chosen from nearly 75 spring waters from 20 countries,
Chateldon, Vichy Célestins and Saint-Yorre were rewarded in
March 2018 as « Sparkling Waters of Character ». All three of
them belong to the Société Commerciale d’eaux minérales du
Bassin de Vichy (SCBV) which exploits the mineral water
produced in the Vichy area. With around 50 hectares of land
and 150 people working in Saint-Yorre, the SCBV is only a small
production unit in the Alma-Roxane Group which it has
belonged to since 1993. The site is, however, important given
the reputation or its brands, internationally recognised for the
health benefits they provide.
Made to measure skills and know-how
Concentrating development on luxury leather goods and its subcontractors has allowed ACM
France to earn the confidence of high-end customers represented locally, for example LVMH,
Fleurus, and Sofama. Their patented machine for precision dyeing of leather without
overlapping or running, has already come to the attention of major names in leather goods in
Italy. Spain and Portugal and two machines have been sold to Japan and Taiwan.
ACM France has recently taken out a patent for a new high precision machine to install eyelets
and rivets, which will open a new sector with substantial growth potential.
From its base in Creuzier-le-Neuf, ACM France intends to position itself in the cosmetics sector,
providing customised solutions for specific production lines for well-known brand name products.
Their 'Haute Couture' pleated lampshades and 'Petticoat' style lampshades have forged
the reputation of the Ateliers Hugues Rambert, based at Creuzier-le-Vieux, chosen by
major designers and interior designers. Whether for the Chanel boutiques in Russia, or
the coaches of the Orient Express, the dozen or so « petites mains » seamstresses at
the Ateliers Hugues Rambert work with the best, for example Lalique and Baccarat,
under the guidance of Philippe Rabane (see photo). With the advantage of having highly
qualified personnel, the Ateliers Hugues Rambert have carved themselves a place in
their niche market, and their references are multiplying around the world.
Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.com
Vichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19
Bringing together a digital community
It is in the Atrium (atrium-vichy.com),
the community's business centre
located near to Vichy's railway station
and the town centre, that the
Association L’étincelle (spark) was
launched.
A place to share ideas and
opportunities concerning the digital
world in all its applications. The
association was created by Vincent
Bouyssou, the Executive Director of the
digital agency TroisPointZero-TPZ, 3.0
in English, and Gabriel Olekhnovitch,
an e-commerce web developer.
These « relentless optimists » regularly
organise themed get-togethers with
other professionals in in the Allier
Departement, like Connecting Bourbon
and the Metropolitan Centre, particularly with the Marque Auvergne brand name. They want to enlarge the
digital horizons of the participants through « pitches », persuasive arguments, and discussing and sharing a
variety of human experiences. With the support of Vichy Communauté, L’étincelle benefits from a place
purely dedicated to the digital world at the Atrium.
A Fab-Lab will also be opened in 2019: a Fab-Lab is a fabrication laboratory, a small-scale workshop offering
(personal) digital fabrication and widespread access to modern means for invention.
So that the inhabitants of the Montagne Bourbonnaise can also benefit from a local 'connected' space, the
work undertaken at the 'Maison des Services au Public', public services centre at Mayet-de-Montagne will
see the opening of a co-working area towards the end of 2018.
One of the first members of L’étincelle was the start-up
Whisperies created by Adeline Fradet in 2014, providing
digital animated stories for children. Her collaborative
creative platform brings together authors and illustrators,
and has led to the publication in 2018 of a work narrated by
Isabelle Adjani, an acclaimed French film actress and singer
(born 27 June 1955).
Books in English have also appeared on the website, which
seems all set to conquer the French and international
markets.
A dynamic centre for shopping and business tourism
With over 500 shops in the town centre and numerous events every year, the town of Vichy remains an
attractive destination.
Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.com
Vichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19
In order to continue to attract such activities, the « project for the town » will create a perimeter within
which local shops and crafts will have pre-emptive rights, financial installation assistance for professionals,
and façade improvement grants for local residents.
Located in the town centre, the Palais des Congrès-Opéra has an eclectic cultural programme all year round
and opens its doors to the general public for visits.
In terms of conferences and conventions, on average there is an event related to business tourism organised
each day of the year. Vichy is in the same league as other destinations prized for this type of tourism, such as
Deauville and Saint-Malo. A dynamic
that the Tourist Office wants to
increase through the use of the brand
name Vichy DestiNations, and by
widening the field of distribution of
the two magazines Vichy DestiNations
and Vichy DestiNations Business.
It is interesting to note that many of
the business tourists return to Vichy
for a private break or visit.
Activity zones covering the territory
There are 21 activity zones spread across the territory, of which 17 are run by Vichy Communauté, hosting
225 businesses and brands. The conurbation also has land available to it to respond to the installation or
expansion needs of businesses.
Vichy Communauté has specialised in the areas of Health-Beauty-Wellness/Biomedical and has had a
business park dedicated to these themes since 1993. Located at Hauterive on 13 hectares of land already
fitted out with the necessary services, the Bioparc Vichy-Hauterive (www.bioparc.com) has another forty
hectares of land for expansion.
With the « Qualiparc » label since 2000, the Bioparc currently hosts a dozen businesses, including JCE
Biotechnology who have recently built their new 2,500m2 premises. JCE
specialises in the design, production and maintenance of customised
isolators and personalized solutions for isolation technology. Alongside the
Biopole Clermont-Limagne and the Naturopole Nutrition-Health, the
Bioparc Vichy-Hauterive is part of the Auvergne Biosite Network helping to
accommodate, support and develop activities in life sciences:
www.arbios.org
Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.com
Vichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19 Sport and Health, a winning combination Given the existing infrastructures, and the public and private accommodation available, the conurbation has made sport a major lever and booster for economic development, in synergy with its existing competences in the areas linked to « Health-Beauty-Wellness » and Thermalism. 3 Questions to Professor Yves-Jean Bignon Deputy Mayor of Vichy, in charge of Thermalism and Heritage/Vice-President of the Cluster Innovatherm - What areas are being developed within Innovatherm ? Vichy's vocation as a thermal spa centre is based on continuous development and innovation, making it one of the pioneers of preventive healthcare. The Cluster of Excellence Innovatherm was created in the Auvergne and has now expanded into the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region. Its current President is Jérôme Phelipeau, the CEO of the Compagnie de Vichy, a French company active in the hydrotherapy, hotel and bottled water business, based in Vichy. The Cluster presently brings together thirty or so actors from the thermal spa sector, including major groups, SMEs and micro- enterprises, as well as public sector research establishments such as universities, laboratories and hospital research services. It collaborative projects concern not only geothermal energy (cf. VERTH study paper : Valorisation Energétique des Rejets d’Eau THermale - energy added value from used thermal spa water), but also programmes in thermal spa centres concerning nutrition and providing support and post-therapeutic rehabilitation for women in remission from breast cancer (Cf. Pacthe). - The Institut Interuniversitaire de Médecine Thermale - IIMT (Inter - University Institute of Thermal/Spa Medicine) has recently been based at the Pôle Universitaire Lardy (Lardy University Centre), what role should they play? The arrival of its Project Engineer, Roland Defendini, made the installation of the IIMT in Vichy official. Financed by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region in partnership with the Town of Vichy and Vichy Communauté, the IIMT is one of the transversal actions in the Regional Thermal Plan, where it has two years to put in place specialised academic/training courses, each with a diploma at the end, in order to meet the needs for thermal/spa doctors. The IIMT will also put in place a regional observatory of thermal/spa medicine and its different contributions and applications. - What are the expected effects of Vichy's inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Other than the expected economic effects and positive effects on tourism, this prestigious inscription will change the image of Vichy, propelling the thermal city to the forefront of the national and international stages. There are many people in Vichy who are mobilised in support of this candidature. It is also a marvellous way of reinforcing Vichy's position as the « Queen of thermal spa towns ». The recommendations in terms of prevention and care treatments, as well as the interactions, particularly concerning the fitness of sports men and women, will have specific programmes and will be subject to specific analyses. The expertise, skills and know-how of Vichy in terms of thermalism and balneology is already being developed internationally. The company Vichy Spa International (VSI), a subsidiary of the Compagnie de Vichy, adds value to this expertise by developing Thermal Medical Spa Hotels. The new thermal spa centre Vichy Célestins Retaj Salwa opened its doors in Qatar in May 2018. Managed by VSI, it has forty cubicles for spa care treatments, taking a global approach to health, and paying particular attention to diabetes. Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.com
Vichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19 Also managed by VSI, the Vichy Thermalia Spa Hotel Moulay Yacoub opened in Morocco this summer. It proposes spa care treatments using local spa water reputed in the kingdom for its therapeutic virtues for rheumatology, including rheumatism, arthritis, and other disorders of the joints, muscles, and ligaments, as well as for otorhinolaryngology, relating to diseases of the ear, nose, and throat. In terms of the territory of Vichy Communauté, the privileged living environment and the health care treatments provided are accompanied by keeping fit through sports activities. The inhabitants, as well as champions in all categories coming to Vichy to improve their training and performance or to participate in the competitions organised here, benefit from the installations already in place for numerous sports. The sports centre of excellence, which is in the process of being organised in a structured form, will work closely with the CREPS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes/VICHY (Centre de Ressources, d'Expertise et de Performance Sportives-Sports Resources, Expertise and Performance Centre). The CREPS has its installation on a 9ha site and organises numerous training courses. More than 700 people pass through its doors each year to prepare for the Sports Coach & Educator Diploma. Supervised by both the State and the Region, the CREPS specialises in health through physical activity, and parasports, and since 2016 is home to a « Sport-Health-Wellbeing » National Resources Centre. In April 2018 this sports resources, expertise and performance centre was awarded, by the French Minster of Sport, Laura Flessel, the Grand INSEP Bronze Label. This label is part of France's ambition to be one of the top 5 Olympic Nations and one of the top 10 Paralympic Nations. It also fits in well with the conurbation's ambition not only to organise major international sports events, but also to welcome athletes in their preparation for such events. In the 2018 French Elite Parasports championships, Théo Curin won a number of swimming medals; Gold in the 50m Freestyle; Gold in the 200m Freestyle; Gold in the 50m Backstroke; Silver in the 100m Freestyle. He also broke the French parasport record for the 100m Freestyle, and won selection for the European Parasports Championships in Dublin. Only recently turned 18, this border at the CREPS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes/VICHY as part of the French youth para-swimming centre, is one of the 18 athletes chosen to help prepare for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, which he also hopes to participate in... Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.com
Vichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19
Next door to the CREPS, the Centre Omnisports has 120ha of sports installations and equipment alongside
the river Allier.
The compact nature of this area dedicated to sports, in the heart of the conurbation on the left bank of the
river, is part of a 500ha sports site unique in France.
In a radius of 1500 metres, this platform benefits from the public equipment of the CREPS , the Centre
Omnisports and the water sports stadium, as well as the racecourse and the Sporting Club for golf and
tennis.
The conurbation has sufficient installations to be able to organise competitions in 27 of the 33 disciplines at
the next Olympic Games in Tokyo. Even if the number of disciplines increases for the 2024 games, which will
include pétanque/boules and water skiing, Vichy Communauté, already recognised as having one of the
largest sports sites in France, could apply to host teams preparing for the Olympics.
After having served in May 2018 as a training camp for the juniors in French rowing, under the responsibility
of Jérôme Déchamp from Vichy, head of the youth section at the French Rowing Federation (Fédération
Française d’Aviron), the widened river Allier in Vichy (le plan d’eau) will host the French Masters
Championship in June 2019.
In the interval the 'plan d’eau' will be completely
dredged and several sluice gates in its dam will be
changed. This renovation is part of the
development project for the left bank of the Allier
between the two bridges, with work beginning in
the Autumn of 2018.
Following the example of the work already carried
out on the right bank, this new 5km landscaped
promenade along the river, is also part of the local plan of the Clermont Vichy Auvergne Metropolitan
Centre. It will be part of the regional 'Green Way' helping to discover the River Allier, which, eventually, will
be 27km long in the Vichy Communauté, from Saint-Yorre/Mariol to Saint-Germain-des-Fossés/Billy.
Furthermore, numerous sports equipment in the conurbation will be renewed by 2021, with view to hosting
teams participating in the 2023 Rugby World cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Whether as a base camp or a site for preparation, the conurbation of Vichy Communauté intends to actively
participate in these events. More than €40 million in total will be invested in these installations, with
contributions from the Departement, the Region, the State and Europe.
The Vichy-Bellerive racecourse is one of the most
important outside of Paris with over forty meetings from
May to September. It has recently renewed its racetrack
for trotting/harness racing.
Now it is the turn of the Sichon Showjumping arena to
undergo modernisation. With its new sand and fibre
footing in the arena, inaugurated in July 2018, and the
project for a covered jumping area, the site will be able to
host competitions all year round.
Since the conurbation's 'Stade aquatique' swimming centre opened in 2008, it is regularly fully used.
Swimmers from schools, universities, clubs and associations, but also Olympic teams and international
athletes are very positive about this quality installation.
Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.com
Vichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19
Then there is the French Motorised Water
Sports Championships, and the Jet Cross
World Tour (International Freestyle Jet Ski
Championship) organised on the 'plan
d’eau' in 2018.
Not forgetting the Ironman Vichy and the
Ironman 70.3 Vichy, with the hope that with
nearly 4,000 participants, in the future they
can organise the world's largest long
distance triathlon meeting on the same
weekend.
Such major sports events attract a large number of spectators. In total some 100,000 overnight stays each
year, generating an income valued at over €50 million.
The Montagne Bourbonnaise provides access to sports and
tourism for the conurbation and will benefit from sustainable
improvements, with €3.8 million being allocated for such
development, with the support of Vichy Communauté, the
Departement and the Region, along with partners from the
private sector. Three emblematic sites will benefit from
investment, initially in areas open to the public. The main
objective is to increase the quality and quantity of the
accommodation and activities available, based on inter-
seasonality.
Other than the creation of an indoor sports hall in the heart of
the Lavoine commune, the accommodation at Montoncel must be completely refurbished.
Walking/hiking circuits and orienteering races will be developed with reinforced signage. In May 2018 more
than 1,800 people participated in the 37th O’Bivwak Orienteering Festival at the Loge des Gardes, which will
also see new equipment for its paragliding, skiing and other snow sports activities.
The Lake at Saint-Clément will have a new tree-top-adventure activity function and a modernised water-
sports base around its leisure area.
Particularly favourable for outdoor activities in the countryside, the Montagne Bourbonnaise also has rock
climbing sites and trail running circuits, notably at Châtel-Montagne.
Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.comVichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19 3 Questions to : Jean-Sébastien Laloy Mayor of Cusset - Vice-President of Vichy Communauté with responsibility for Higher Education, the Metropolis, Sport and Tourism. - What will be the missions of the Local Public Company Vichy DestiNations ? After the dissolution of the SMAT (Syndicat Mixte d'Aménagement Touristique-Joint Tourism Administrative Structure) in January 2018, and the creation of the Intercommunity Tourist Office which in April 2017 saw the fusion of the Tourist Offices in Billy, Cusset and the Montagne Bourbonnaise, it is now the turn of the Local Public Company (LPC) Vichy DestiNations. From 1st January 2019, Vichy DestiNations will regroup together all the actors in tourism in the conurbation. Vichy DestiNations will be responsible for the traditional missions of tourist offices, in terms of promotion, welcoming visitors and providing tourist information throughout the 39 communes in the conurbation. The LPC will also be responsible for the direct management of tourist installations, such as the Palais des congrès de Vichy convention centre, the Centre International de Séjour international hostel, the Maison des jeunes youth centre, the Château at Billy, a ruined 13th – 14th century castle, and the Palais du Lac exhibition and congress centre. It will also be responsible for developing sites in the Montagne Bourbonnaise. Finally it will be responsible for organising events and activities for the Town of Vichy. - It is the first time that the Lardy University Centre will have a Director exclusively responsible for making it run correctly on a day to day basis. What will be Pierre-Julien Canonne's mandate ? For several years Vichy Communauté has managed to make good choices in terms of developing higher education in the territory, particularly by mobilising important human and financial resources for the Lardy site. This voluntarist policy is now translated by the creation of the position of Vichy Campus Director. The Director's main role will be to build on this strategy of attractiveness by working on the implantation of new academic and training courses, at all post-Baccalaureate levels, and to welcome new students, which are an irrefutable source of dynamism for our territory. To do this, it is necessary to have on campus a greater diversity of industries and course subjects represented, there needs to be more university research work and a greater culture of innovation. It seems to me that as a priority we need to work on providing courses and training more in line with those sectors which make the specificity of our territory: thermal medicine, sports sciences, wellbeing, home services, digital, industry... It will be essential to create new public/private sector partnerships locally, regionally and even nationally, to mobilise those sectors which have the most to offer to Vichy Communauté. - What is the relationship with the Cavilam-Alliance Française language school, whose students share the same campus? The Cavilam-Alliance Française language school is a major player at the Vichy Lardy University Centre. This historical collaboration is a model of mutualisation of resources, as other than the fact that the premises are shared, representatives of the CAVILAM and Vichy Communauté work together on quality assurance in terms of cost management. The fact that the students are on the same campus is a major positive and a supplementary advantage we should capitalise on. Each student at the University Centre must become an ambassador for our territory. Finally, Vichy Communauté is a strong supporter of the project for a new building for the Cavilam-Alliance Française language school, with the construction work starting by the end of 2018. This is evidence of the way this partnership is continuously renewing itself, which is characteristic of the relationship between the two institutions. Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.com
Vichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19 Excellent education and training facilities For the start of the new 2018 academic year, the new Masso-Kinesitherapy Institute will open its doors to 400 students for a four year course: previously the annual intake was 230 students. An intergenerational residence and a supermarket will complete the renovation of the 'Docks de Blois' district. The promoters have invested €15 million to regenerate this 1.4 hectares of old industrial wasteland, turning it into a new district in Vichy. A new school of the Higher Institute of Psychomotor Re-education is opening at rue Foch in Vichy, with 60 students for 2018. The range of academic and training courses oriented towards healthcare is growing in the conurbation, and now includes an Institute for Higher Training in Osteopathy (IFSO), authorised by the French Ministry of Health, Youth and Sport. With the Vichy Lardy University Centre, Vichy Communauté is one of the rare conurbations having chosen to take charge of « higher education » with 5 sectors supported and run by Clermont Auvergne University, including ten courses from Bac+1 to Bac+5, which will be increased in September 2018 with a University Degree Course (DUT) in Information Communication, as part of the Allier IUT (University Institute of Technology). At the beginning of the new academic year in 2018 the Clermont-Auvergne University will provide the first year of a Bachelor's Degree course (Licence) in STAPS, the science and techniques of sports and physical activities, in Vichy. The course will take 160 students at the Lardy University Centre for classes in theory, and at the sports installations at the CREPS in the Omnisports Centre for the practical work. With the arrival of these new academic and training courses, a further 2,250 students will be present in the conurbation during the university year. The objective is to see this number increase to 3,000 students by 2025. Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.com
Vichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19
« CLERMONT VICHY AUVERGNE » METROPOLITAN CENTRE : PROJECTS AS DRIVING FORCES
11 Public
676,000 60,517 272,885 Establishments
businesses jobs for Intermunicipal
inhabitants
Cooperation
(EPCI)
A place for dialogue and cooperation between
territories, created in 2013, the « Clermont Vichy
Auvergne » Metropolitan Centre today brings together
11 EPCI's. Including the Puy-de-Dôme Chamber of
Commerce and Industry in these discussions, the
Metropolitan Centre wants to be aware of the opinions
of the private and public sector actors in the territory it
wants to help gain in competitivity.
The Metropolitan Centre has three missions: as a
strategist, adding value to the west regional
metropolis; as an incubator of major metropolitan
projects; and as a coordinator of debates and
discussions on intermunicipal themes.
A frame of reference for work, without delegated skills
and competences, the « Clermont Vichy Auvergne »
Metropolitan Centre, is not legally a metropolis. Its
aim is to bring together the different energies of the
EPCI members, in order to create a territory of
projects.
With around 676,000 inhabitants representing some
270,000 jobs, the catchment area extends from
Lapalisse to Brioude. Continuous dialogue is the key to
maintaining balanced relations between the towns
and the rural areas which make up the Metropolitan
Centre's territory. Local aspirations and metropolitan
ambitions must, therefore, combine in complete
complementarity.
The Metropolitan Centre represents a real driving force for development in terms of higher education,
research, innovation, and a knowledge-driven economy, as well as physical and digital connections, and the
influence and reputation of sport, culture and tourism... Among the challenges faced for 2018-2019 are the
feasibility of an observatory of the River Allier, contributing to the success of the candidacy of Clermont-
Ferrand as « European Capital of Culture 2028 », and the structural organisation of the digital economy.
At the end of May 2018, Vichy, Vichy Communauté and Riom 'Limagne et Volcans’ joined the Clermont
Auvergne Local Public Company. Dedicated to the realisation and management of development and
construction projects, this operational tool also participates in the development of the urban centre,
providing equilibrium in the west relative to Lyon, the driving force in the centre of the enlarged region.
In particular it will undertake the necessary studies for the realisation of an eco-district on the banks of the
River Allier, with more than 500 new homes. « Together, we will be stronger to manage a metropolitan
development strategy! » (Frédéric Aguilera)
Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.comVichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19
THE DEPARTEMENT OF THE ALLIER PARTNER OF ITS LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES
343,000 317 14
inhabitants communes town centres
www.allier.fr covering 17,098
7,340 km² businesses
Social action constitutes
the main part of the
competences of the
Departement, and
represents more than 50%
of the operating budget.
The Departement is also
responsible for the
management, maintenance
and functioning of 35
public colleges in the Allier,
as well as the development
and maintenance of the
5,284 km of roads in the
Departement.
The year 2018 marks an
intensification of support
from the Allier
Departement Council for
local projects: for example the acceleration of the digital for all programme, particularly the construction of
mobile phone transmission masts and equipping 23 new communes with fibre optic connections by 2021;
intensifying aid to business property and the programme of revitalising town and village centres.
To this end, the Departement Council and Vichy Communauté signed in March 2018 the first 2017-2020
territorial contract. The budget granted by the Departement is in an amount of €5,013,000 million, shared
among eleven structure related projects which follow specific, identified development programmes.
The authorisation of this finance completes the investments already made by the Conurbation, also
supported by the Region and/or the State, as well as the different structures concerned: the renovation of
the sports economy platform (6%), development of the Sichon Showjumping Arena (7.17%), rehabilitation
of the trotting track at the racecourse (17.71%), development of the left bank of the Allier River (9.68%), the
final portion of the Urban Boulevard (10%), development of the River Allier green way from Saint-Yorre to
Billy (10%), developing tourist centres in the North of the conurbation at Saint-Germain-des-Fossés/Billy and
in the South at Saint-Yorre/Abrest (10%), construction of a bus depot for the urban network (29.79%),
creation of an inter-community Music Conservatoire (21.87%), realisation of a sports complex in the centre
of the village at Lavoine (22.22%), fitting out new equipment for the Cavilam- Alliance Française (11.11%),
Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.comVichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19
The Departement plan of action to support the agro-foodstuffs industries is subject to a convention with
the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region (SRDEII 2017-2021).
This aid is allocated specifically to companies involved in storage, packaging, transformation and marketing
in the agriculture sector, including slaughterhouses. The aid specifically concerns investments in equipment,
with the Departement contributing to operations involving the acquisition, modernisation and improvement
of new productive equipment and material.
The company Convivial was able to enlarge and modernise its production site at
Creuzier-le-Vieux with the support of the Departement (Aid in support of
business property - Aide à l’Immobilier d’Entreprise, cofinanced by Vichy
Communauté). From a family of eight generations of butchers, Jean Meunier had
the idea of making the high quality beef in the region available to as large a
number of consumers as possible.
In 2017 €4 million was invested to enlarge the production site by 1,100m 2, in
order meet the market’s ever increasing demands for their products.
« In a market as sensitive as ours, we have to be irreproachable. All of our
suppliers are concerned with these requirements. These rules and regulations guarantee the consumer that
we are respecting our commitments in terms of security and quality, not forgetting our own commitment to
continuous improvement. »
Because respecting the consumer is an integral part of the philosophy of the company, in January 2018
Convivial joined the fair trade movement under the label « Who's the boss - C’est qui le patron ? ».
The Allier Department increases its actions in favour of local foods and agriculture and developing short
circuits via their internet platform Agrilocal 03. Contacts between public and private sector buyers for
contract catering and local food and agriculture producers is simple and immediate. The buyers are mostly
colleges, primary schools, secondary schools, old people’s homes etc.
The conurbation is also involved in a responsible coordinated approach to food production and
consumption, under the umbrella of a government sponsored PAT (Projet Alimentaire Territorial-territorial
food project). Local actors are brought together to provide a sustainable food chain available to everyone.
Vichy Communauté was one of the laureates rewarded at the National Agricultural Trade Fair in 2018.
Subsidies help to sustain and develop the PAT within the 39 communes.
The Allier Departement continues to provide support to actors in the tourist industry through a partnership
agreement signed with the Region for the period 2017-2020. Travelling tourism, the major walking routes,
spa thermalism and health, gastronomy and wine tourism are the themes of excellence being supported,
and the Departement continues to help finance private accommodation projects.
Tourism in the Allier, not including business tourism, generated €350 million of income in 2017. It also
represents 2 million nights in commercial accommodation: 44% being in hotels showing an increase for the
third year running at +1.97%. Foreign tourists, mostly from Holland, Belgium, Germany and the UK,
represent 13.4% of the nights stayed, with the majority preferring accommodation in the countryside, where
stays increased by 1% in 2017. French tourists are mostly from the Ile-de-France/Paris region (26%). These
activities generate income of €305 million and support 4,500 jobs, being 4.4% of the salaried workers in the
Allier.
Alongside the Ain, Drôme, Savoie and Haute-Savoie Departements, the Allier is one of only five regional
territories which exports abroad more than it imports. Although imports increased more than exports in
2017, at +16.5% against +9%, the Allier's balance of trade remained positive with exports at €1.57 billion
compared with imports of €1.3 billion. (Source: Presentation of the 2017 results for foreign trade for the
Allier, made by the Allier CCI, based on the Banque de France's annual regional economic figures.)
Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.comVichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19
AUVERGNE-RHONE-ALPES, AN IMPORTANT AND LARGE REGION
8 MILLION covering 3,316,000
inhabitants 70,000 km² jobs
the No 1
770,000 industrial
320,000
businesses region in students
www.auvergnerhonealpes.fr
France
Covering nearly 70,000km², being 13% of France's metropolitan territory, it stretches from the Massif
Central in the West to the Alps in the East. The surface area is equivalent to that of Ireland, made up of
4,181 Communes and 12 Departements.
As of 1 January 2018 the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes had the second largest regional population in France with
more than 8 million inhabitants, being 12.3% of the total population of the country.
With 80% of its territory situated in mountainous regions, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is the largest
mountainous region in Europe.
Since 2015 the Region is the top local authority in terms of economic development.
The new regional economic development agency, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Entreprises, has two Presidents,
Laurent Wauquiez, President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, and Jean-Dominique Senard, President
of the Michelin Group. The agency has put in place an array of different tools to inject some dynamism into
the economy and the jobs market.
Economic Development Agency : Vichy Communauté Développement / www.vichy-economie.comVichy Communauté Economic Panorama 2018/19
3 questions to Charlotte Benoit
(Member of the Regional Council, First Deputy Mayor of Vichy and
Vice-President of Vichy Communauté)
1. What are the regional priorities concerning financial support for
businesses
Whether it is direct financing, a complete range of financial engineering
tools, or support programmes, for each situation and for each sector of
activity, the Region provides targeted aid and support.
To make sure we are correct in our estimation of a company's needs, we are
trying to make things simple by providing programmes which are complete
and ready for immediate use. Brought together under the umbrella « Four Ambition Programmes - Quatre
programmes Ambition », regional aid and support is easily accessible to start-ups, microenterprises, SMEs
and Mid-Sized Businesses, as they can choose personalised support packages at each stage in their
development. Visibility, legibility and fluidity, are the objectives targeted for reinforced efficiency.
Ambition Start-up: for young innovative businesses, looking for major investment funds, with a strong and rapid
potential for economic growth
Ambition Microenterprises: A business with less than 50 employees, and Turnover or Total Balance Sheet Assets less
than €10 million
Ambition SME: A business with between 50 and 250 employees, Turnover less than €50 million, and Total Balance
Sheet Assets less than €43 million
Ambition Mid-Sized Business: A business with between 250 and 5,000 employees, Annual Turnover less than €1.5
billion or a Total Balance Sheet Assets less than €2billion
2. What role does the regional economic development agency, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Entreprises, play?
First port of call for businesses, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Economic Development Agency has the
essential mission of carrying out a strategic analysis of each project, in order to precisely identify the needs
and qualify the solutions for support.
The Agency fulfils its missions by counting on the leverage effect to mobilise other European and French
funds and financing. Joint governance leaves a place for all the actors in the economic development process:
for example the network of chambers of commerce and trade, representatives of higher education and
research, clusters and competitivity centres... Its Departement Office in Moulins ensures the local
continuation of proximity.
3. How is the digital market going to boost a company's global performance?
As well as the systems and services which already exist, in March 2018 the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes was flying
the flag of 'French Fab'.
This new label helps companies to accelerate their switch to the industry of the future. The Region will
provide support and finance programmes, such as for the integration of new technologies. Robotics,
connected objects, additive manufacturing/3D printing, the digital market in all its forms will be taken into
account to make a success of this « digital watershed ».
At the Digital Summit in Lyons in March 2018, Laurent Wauquiez regretted the fact that one in two
entrepreneurs did not have a digital project. By moving from « 1,000 to 40,000 per year the number of
businesses supported », the President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region hopes to create 10,000 jobs
around a digitalised industry by 2021. A regional innovation fund and the application of the Investment
Programme for the Future 3 (PIA 3 - Programme d'Investissement d'Avenir) are part of the programme the
Region, Bpifrance the French investment bank, and the State will work on together.
Texts : Véronique Durupt (VD Redac) for Vichy Communauté Développement / June 2018
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