The extraordinary session held by the Alicante Provincial Council on Wednesday approved, by unanimous vote, an increase to 2.3 million euros in subsidies for Alicante’s municipalities aimed at boosting employment and driving economic development. As a result, this year’s grant call rises by 10.6 percent compared with the previous period. While the chamber’s parties spoke with one voice, the socialist spokesperson, Vicente Arques, used the short plenary to voice concern about bureaucratic delays in processing these grants, delays that disproportionately affect smaller municipalities. [Citation: Provincial Council of Alicante]
The plenary also approved funds for events and trade fairs, market modernization, and the promotion of agriculture and urban gardens. These initiatives will be financed through the Economic Development department, led by Councillor Carlos Pastor, and are among the main lines funded by the council in this session. [Citation: Alicante Provincial Council]
The government representative noted that nearly half of the department’s budget is earmarked for this grants program. This year, priority will again be given to municipalities facing depopulation. Speaking to this issue, Vicente Arques lamented the lack of progress in removing bureaucratic obstacles, which undermines towns with limited resources. He recalled that on September 6, during a commission on infrastructures, roads, and water management, a committee for studying changes to the grants regulation was created. Although two members from his group joined the commission, he stated that five months later nothing had been resolved. He also serves as the mayor of l’Alfàs del Pi. [Citation: Alicante Province records]
Arques also reminded listeners that this project was inherited from the previous administration. He highlighted the creation of a commission intended to streamline grant processing and reduce red tape for municipalities. That initiative began in October 2021 and has not yet achieved its goals, which included reducing the number of grant calls and providing clearer scheduling. The infrastructure director at that time, now a deputy in the regional parliament, presided over the body, which included representatives from all political groups in the council, with participation from Alejandro Morant (People’s Party), Toni Francés (PSPV-PSOE), and Gerard Fullana (Compromís). [Citation: Council records]
During the Wednesday plenary, Councillor Pastor indicated that more than 600 grant applications were received in the previous year, with 134 municipalities and three minor local bodies benefiting. The Alcoy-based deputy emphasized the government’s commitment to serving smaller municipalities, asserting that many will see the full cost of their projects covered. [Citation: Provincial funding report]