Last Saturday, the Official State Gazette (BOE) published calls for applications for the lines of grants to the commercial sector included in component 13 of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan financed with European NextGenerationEU Funds. These grants, whose potential beneficiaries will be local authorities, will cover three lines of action —sustainable markets in urban commercial areas, sustainable markets in rural areas and strengthening the commercial sector in tourist areas— with a budget of 104 million euros for 2021.

According to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto,the purpose of these grants is to alleviate the effects COVID-19 has had on the commercial sector, taking into account its special vulnerability, as it is mainly made up of SMEs and self-employed workers. They will also promote a more resilient, competitive, sustainable and digital commercial sector that responds to new consumer habits and models. The objectives of the three lines are aligned with those set by the European Union and focus particularly on the rural environment, because commerce is an economic activity that helps to settle the population and forms part of the identity of our villages, as well as favouring economic development and territorial structuring..

Lines of grants to the commercial sector

The deadline for submitting applications for this line is 30 September 2021.

 

Consult details of the line in the BOE [PDF]

Within the concept of sustainable markets, a second line of grants has been designed for markets in rural areas with subsidies aimed at supporting the implementation, modernisation and promotion of commercial activity in rural areas, improving the competitiveness, sustainability and diversification of the rural economy. It has a budget of 15 million euros to be assigned over three years (2021-2023). "Rural area" has been defined as a municipality with less than 5,000 inhabitants or a simple majority of municipalities that make up a supra-municipal locality with less than 5,000 inhabitants. Applications can be submitted until 6 October..

Consult details of the line in the BOE [PDF]

The third and final line of grants is aimed at strengthening commerce in tourist areas, specifically at supporting commercial establishments located in tourist areas, and improving the shopping experience for tourists. This line has a budget of 100 million euros for the same three years. Applications can be submitted until 4 October..

Consult details of the line in the BOE [PDF]