The effects of the coronavirus pandemic have accelerated the profound changes in city centers. This has particularly affected the retail sector, but the tourism, hospitality and cultural sectors are also suffering the consequences. There is also little demand for some commercial and residential uses in their current form. Considerable functional, urban development and real estate management adjustments are therefore required in the city centers in order to increase and secure the quality of life and the importance of the centers for the surrounding area.

The federal government has also recognized the precarious situation and has launched the "Sustainable city centers and town centers" programme at short notice to strengthen city centres. Local authorities had until 17.09.2021 to submit project proposals for innovative concepts and action strategies to strengthen resilience and crisis management as part of an expression of interest procedure.

With the funding decision of 27.10.2022, the city of Salzgitter was awarded funding by the Federal Institute for Building. Urban and Spatial Research (BBSR) granted the city of Salzgitter a grant of EUR 1,922,249.50 for the period from 27.10.2022 - 31.08.2025.

In this funding program, the focus is on a comprehensive concept development in which sustainable and future-proof goals and strategies for the city centers are to be developed in the medium and long term. In addition, the municipality is to be given the means to directly implement projects that support the concept in a broad participation process.