The Department of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism announced an advance aid value of 20,015,000 euros for 2024, focusing on trade, consumption, and crafts. The aid targets federations of individuals, small and medium enterprises, professional groups, consumers, and users engaged in commercial and craft activities across the Valencian Community, under the guidance of Nuria Montes.
The purpose is to strengthen commercial and craft infrastructure, both public and private, support the development of crafts, and provide comprehensive training to enhance the skills and competitiveness of professionals in the trade sector. It also aims to promote local trade and crafts, boost local consumption, and safeguard the survival and continuity of these activities.
Maribel Saez, General Manager of Trade, Craft and Consumption, stated that the aid is vital for sectors forming a significant part of Valencia’s economy. She emphasized its closer connection to the average consumer and highlighted Valencia’s distinctive makeup, which has historically depended on small and medium-sized businesses as well as artisans and professionals with a strong entrepreneurial spirit.
In this context, Saez noted ongoing work to refine the aid guidelines to ensure a robust and timely response. Continuous meetings and discussions with key sectors have taken place, and she affirmed her full availability to explain the aid and subsidies now granted to representatives from all three provinces and other stakeholders, with the aim of addressing as many requests as possible.
In this case, the submission window runs from January 15 to February 9, 2024, and applications must be completed electronically through the Generalitat’s electronic center.
Expenditures eligible for aid
The regulatory principles of this subsidy call identify several cost areas as eligible, with the following programs standing out:
– Promotional Crafts (€520,000): Expenses related to exhibiting at fairs with a crafts focus, including events outside the Valencian Community, are eligible. This covers ground and stand rental, assembly and dismantling, decoration, and labeling of the same products.
Additionally, expenses related to product protection, design or branding and their inclusion in product descriptions and applications are eligible. Costs for preparing and editing product catalogs in any medium, including web hosting and promotional activities through various tools, are also eligible.
Participation in specialized training courses organized by educational institutions, regardless of location, in design, quality, and craft-related trade specialization remains eligible.
– Start trading (€230,000): Ongoing costs associated with maintaining a newly owned shop or launching a commercial activity in a facility where economic activity was previously conducted are eligible.
– Create trade (€7,030,000): Investments in equipment for the business, including computer applications and costs for creating a website linked to the entity, provided the site enables secure online sales or integration into an online commerce platform.
– Create markets (€20,000): Support for those selling in non-traditional sales markets to invest in adapting transport and storage vehicles or installing storage equipment, provided they hold a municipal permit for sales of food products.
Source: Department of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism, Valencia.