# Section 2 Promoting Measures Supporting Regional Revitalization

## 1 Efforts Directed at Augment Regional and Private Autonomy and Discretion

(1) Expanding and improving on administration on various subsidies

The “Regional Renovation Infrastructures Reinforcement Subsidies” are a cross-ministerial package of subsidies that are granted to help develop functionally similar facilities in clusters in accordance with a regional renovation plan. The package comprises the “Road Development Subsidy” (municipal roads, wide-area agricultural roads or forest roads), the “Sewage Treatment Facility Development Subsidy” (public sewerage, village drainage or septic tanks) and the “Harbor Development Subsidy” (local harbor facilities or Category 1 or 2 fishing port facilities). As of the end of March 2013, 1,607 regional renovation plans were accredited. The “Regional Renovation Infrastructures Reinforcement Subsidies” are used to finance facilities development in the projects based on 1,003 of these regional renovation plans.

## (2) Supporting local regional revitalization efforts

An enhanced system of consultation on local regional revitalization efforts in progress is maintained by delegating regional revitalization support teams, consisting of private experts, etc., and sponsoring consultation meetings at the Local Branch Offices. To further ongoing local efforts for individualistic, attractive community development, the “Tedukuri-Furusato-Sho Award” $ ^{1} $ has been inaugurated. In addition, information that aids in community development, such as case studies and ministerial measures, is disseminated $ ^{2} $ in an email magazine or on other media to support regional revitalization endeavors.

## (3) Promoting the use of know-how and funds originating from private sectors

To bolster the growth and competitiveness of local cities, the MLIT supports the implementation of those private urban development projects that are pursued in coordination with the urban reconstruction development projects sponsored by local governments and that are accredited by the MLIT, as well as urban planning funding to finance Town Development efforts by local residents, etc.

The MLIT supports the formulation of Town Development plans to be driven in the initiative of private Town Development leaders and the implementation of experimental endeavors designed to realize and consolidate the concept of sustainable Town Development, with local citizen participation, through the maintenance and improvement of the charms and vitalities of towns, including events held in public spaces, such as parks, and outdoor advertising projects.

Further, the MLIT promotes the openness of road spaces to develop and manage infrastructures with a new form of partnership between the public and private sectors funded by profits derived from the private sectors and to create new business chances that leverage urban road spaces. Since the introduction of a special measure in FY2011 regarding the

Example of a Private Urban Development Project Accredited by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Himi City Himi Banya-Gai (Himi Lodging House Street) and Spa Development Project

Food culture dissemination facilities and spa-based facilities developed and run by Himi Town Development Co., Ltd. on the subjects of “food and health” attract customers from broad regions, including the neighboring and three major metropolitan areas, to create a space of festivity.

Source) MLIT

permission to use road spaces for creating forums of festivities and human interaction, the nation's first permanently open