The Valencian regional administration, steered by President Ximo Puig, announced last week a targeted fund aimed at helping self-employed workers weather the impacts of the war in Ukraine. The measure concentrates on countering higher energy and input costs that have weighed on small businesses across the region. The allocation will be sourced by reallocating resources from the Edificant plan, which had originally been dedicated to school renovation and construction projects carried out under the Consell for Education services.
To make this shift, today the Department of General State Administration will publish a decree amending specific provisions of the Edificant framework, as laid out in Decree-Law 5/2017, dated October 20. The objective is to empower the Education Ministry to redirect budget resources toward upgrading training facilities and to bolster self-employment initiatives. The decree frames the move as a practical adjustment designed to respond to immediate social and economic needs while maintaining a commitment to education infrastructure.
The decree notes that loans managed under Edificant experienced disruptions in recent years, resulting in execution well below the originally approved budgets. It highlights that the pandemic triggered suspensions and delays in 2020, and that the current volatile economic climate, with fluctuating prices, has led to cancellations of tenders or earlier awarded contracts in several cases. In explaining the financial retrenchment, officials emphasize the necessity of rechanneling funds to urgent priorities without abandoning long-term educational goals.
Facing unspent funds and an urgent demand for action, the Consell argues that higher courts have repeatedly validated this pragmatic approach. The decree-law provisions are presented as socio-economic measures with clear justification for urgent action and necessity, balancing short-term relief with a commitment to educational development in the long run.
Overall, 45 million euros will be redirected to the Edificant plan, while 300 euros will be allocated to self-employed individuals affected by the rise in energy costs and raw materials who run their own businesses. The measure covers more than 300 CNAE subsections and, according to the Generalitat’s calculations, could reach around 150,000 people. This scale reflects a broad recognition that small enterprises—especially in vulnerable sectors—need targeted support as they navigate price volatility and supply-chain pressures. Analysts note that the approach also aligns with broader regional strategies to sustain employment and stimulate local economies during challenging times. The announcement has prompted discussions about how similar reallocations might serve as short-term stabilizers in other regions facing comparable challenges, including neighboring autonomous communities and markets with strong cross-border ties. The government asserts that the reallocation will be carefully monitored, with reports detailing the impact on training facilities and the livelihoods of self-employed workers who rely on affordable energy and materials to keep their doors open. [Source attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]