An important source of support in the fight against vacant properties is the “Sustainable City Centers and Town Centers in North Rhine-Westphalia” (ZIO = Zukunftsfähige Innenstädte und Ortszentren NRW) funding program run by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which offers businesses and start-ups the opportunity to receive financial support in their initial phase. The economic development agency also actively helps with the search for premises and provides support with business-related issues. 

Cooperation with the city marketing department's center management also provides important impetus for retail and gastronomy. In order to promote the quality of life and create opportunities for people to meet, the economic development agency and city marketing department work hand in hand and in close cooperation with the committed retailers and restaurants of the city center alliance. With “Der Berg ruft” (The Mountain Calls) and other campaigns, interesting event formats have been created that contribute to the revitalization of the city center and have been realized in part with financial support from the municipal center budget.