The government delegate in Galicia, José Miñones, today advanced two new calls for grants to promote business projects in the areas of fair transition and that will offer 50 million euros to companies and entrepreneurs. José Miñones encouraged interested parties to consult the bases of this aid, which were already published in the BOE on December 16, and prepare the projects before the next opening of the deadline for applications “that we estimate will be opened at the beginning of this 2023”, he announced. He recalled that the Government has a Just Transition Office in As Pontes to advise on the submission of applications.
These calls depend on the Institute for the Just Transition (ITJ), an autonomous body of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO). José Miñones stressed that these calls will add a new impulse for the 19 municipalities included in the two areas of Galicia affected by the processes of closure of thermal power plants: Area of Meirama (municipalities of Cerdeda, Ordes, Carral, Tordoia and A Laracha) and Area of As Pontes (As Pontes, A Capela, Xermade, San Sadurniño, As Somozas, Mañón, Monfero, Moeche, Cerdido, Vilalba, Cabanas, Ortigueira, Muras and Ferrol).
Investment and Employment Grants
The aim of these aid lines is to promote concrete business investment initiatives in the areas affected by the energy transition. They seek to generate alternative economic activities that encourage the creation of jobs, as well as maintain existing jobs that promote a new economic development in these territories.
The aid granted through this instrument will be based on two components: the investment made and job creation. Likewise, the hiring of people registered in the ITJ’s job boards will be subsidised, with the aim of promoting the creation of priority employment for workers affected by the closure of mines and power plants. Likewise, the creation of jobs for women, young people, people over 45 years of age and people with disabilities will be rewarded.
There will be two lines in this first call: one for business projects (with 40 million euros), and another for small investment projects (with 10 million euros).
Business projects are those that require a minimum investment of 100,000 euros and create at least three jobs. For their part, small investment projects must invest a minimum of 30,000 euros and commit to maintaining employment for the next three years or creating at least one job for new initiatives.
Valuation of environmental and social benefits
The award of the grants will assess the environmental and social benefits of the projects, their employability, their tractive effect on the territory, their innovation and their location in municipalities affected by depopulation, the demographic challenge and the closure of coal mines and power plants. Small and medium-sized enterprises will also have an additional score.