During a meeting at the State House, the focus centered on the opening of a permanent headquarters in Alcoy and a deeper provincial involvement in cultural affairs across the town, with the two major figures leading the discussion: Toni Pérez, president of the State Assembly, and Toni Frances, the mayor of Alcoy. Additional topics included the Rodes technology park, a project funded by the provincial organization through Plan investments. The exchange reflected a tone of candor and alignment with Pérez’s ongoing engagements with the province’s mayors.
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At the close of the session, the Provincial Assembly Speaker offered no public remarks. The Alcoy mayor articulated a clear outlook, stressing the need for a stronger provincial presence, particularly in cultural matters. The central project the socialist councilor sought is the development of the future Alcoy Museum of Fine Arts, a gallery devoted to 19th-century painters. Frances described various cooperation options, and the proposal received a favorable reception from the president.
spine
The socialist mayor emphasized that Alcoy has long enjoyed a productive relationship with the provincial institution. What remains is a broader framework for cultural collaboration. The provincial council has historically maintained a centrist approach in this area, with notable institutions such as ADDA, Gil-Albert, and MARQ cited as references. Alcoy is presented as a recognized cultural contributor within the Valencian Community, a city with meaningful influence, and this ethos underpins the proposed partnership for the Alcoy museum.
Another key topic discussed by both leaders was the opening of a permanent provincial headquarters in Alcoy, a move previously advanced in Elche and Benidorm while Carlos Mazón presided over the state institution. Frances, who previously served as the spokesperson for the socialist group in the State House, is familiar with the origins and implementation of these plans. Vicente Arques, the mayor of l’Alfàs del Pi, later took on that spokesperson role.
The plan for the Elche provincial headquarters envisions locating it in the central building of the Mediterranean Foundation. The provincial administration’s purchase of this site cost around 6.5 million euros. Mazón led a strong commitment to Elche, highlighting other initiatives such as the congress palace. After acquiring the building, interior rehabilitation was planned to offer citizens cultural, institutional, and administrative services.
The Benidorm headquarters had been approved by the previous administration at a general assembly early last June, despite opposition characterizing the decision as arbitrary. During that assembly, authorization was given for purchasing a 5.2 million property in the city center, aligned with the current provincial head Toni Pérez and his team. The project is presented as part of the provincial council’s pledge to Benidorm, aimed at fostering citizen engagement and serving the Marina Baixa region and beyond.
european funds
The discussion then returned to the topic of funding for the Rodes technology park, a project supported by the Provincial Assembly and European Generation funds. Inflation and rising material costs have affected construction, lifting the current budget to roughly eight million euros, with more than a million added to labor and material costs. The president’s team prepared this meeting within a broader series of talks with province mayors since Pérez assumed office at the end of July. These engagements provide a roadmap for the Provincial Palace’s priorities, including a strong focus on water and tourism, as well as targeted assistance for smaller municipalities.