The Valencian Government’s Department of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism, led by Nuria Montes, will subsidize up to 40% of investments made by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the regional industrial sector located in municipalities at risk of depopulation within the Valencian Community. To publicize this funding line, the Director General of Industry, Manuel Rosalén, sent formal letters to the councils of all 178 at‑risk municipalities, including 23 in the Alicante province.
According to Rosalén, this grant line is designed as a tool to restore population balance in the community and to strengthen the Industrialization Strategy that the regional government plans to approve soon for the period 2014‑2018. The strategy establishes a maximum subsidy of 30% for investments by SMEs across the territory, with an elevated rate of 40% in depopulation risk areas.
The Director General noted that the aims of the grants are to respond to challenges arising from ongoing technological changes with a global impact, ensuring that no Valencian territory is left behind in the modernization drive.
Moreover, Rosalén, in his letter to councils at risk of depopulation, offered collaboration between administrations to promote industrial investment and to disseminate information about these subsidies among SMEs in each comarca.
Up to 200,000 euros per grant
The total budget for this competitive grants program stands at 48.3 million euros, with a maximum allocation of 3.45 million euros for each of the 14 industrial sectors present in the Valencian Community. These sectors include textiles, plastics, metalworking, ceramics, leather and footwear, material valorization, packaging manufacturing, chemicals, paper and graphics, marble and natural stone, wood and furniture, toys, biotechnology, and automotive.
Eligible actions are those that improve industrial competitiveness by creating a new industrial establishment, expanding or upgrading an existing facility, diversifying production, or implementing essential process changes in ongoing operations.
The minimum eligible project cost is 20,000 euros, and the maximum aid per beneficiary company shall not exceed 200,000 euros. Investments must commence between January 1 and November 4 of the current year.
Finally, applications for these grants will be submitted online. The window opened in the second week of February, and supporting documentation must be provided electronically by November 4.”