The Generalitat de Catalunya (the Catalan regional government) is backing shops and businesses, which is why it has opened a call for grants aimed at those that need to go digital.
The requirement is to make an investment of €1,000, the project deadline is 31 December, and you can be awarded up to 70% (with a cap of €5,000).
The scheme is split into 3 programmes: one for retail, another specifically for craftwork, and the last one for fashion. Within retail there are 7 different programmes, craftwork has 2, and fashion has 1.
The requirements and features that apply to the Catalan grants for retailers are these 7 retail programmes:
1. Organisations programme
- Beneficiaries: Retail sector with a minimum of 15 commercial hubs
- Requirements: minimum investment of €3,000
- Grant: Up to 80% eligible – maximum of €40,000
2. Associative network programme
- Beneficiaries: Retail, craftwork or fashion sector / non-profit territorial organisations / grouped businesses or municipal markets
- Requirements: minimum investment of €3,000
- Grant: up to 80% eligible
3. Digital transformation
- Beneficiaries: Freelancers and street-level retail businesses
- Requirements: Minimum investment of €1,000
- Grant: up to 70% eligible – €5,000
4. Retail premises
- Beneficiaries: Freelancers and street-level retail businesses
- Requirements: Minimum investment of €2,000
- Grant: up to 70% eligible – €5,000
5. Support for municipalities with a high dependence on tourism
- Beneficiaries: Territorial business associations and town councils and public bodies
- Requirements: Minimum investment of €3,000 / Include a project with objectives
- Grant: up to 100% eligible – maximum of €20,000
6. Support for municipalities in the retail sphere
- Beneficiaries: Territorial business associations and town councils and public bodies
- Requirements: 1. Submit a justification report / 2. Submit a project and report of the actions to be implemented
- Grant: up to 50% eligible – 1. maximum €5,000 2. €10,000
7. Support for the creation and definition of Apeus (urban retail promotion areas)
- Beneficiaries: Town councils and public bodies and territorial retail associations
- Requirements: minimum investment of €3,000
- Grant: up to 90% eligible – €20,000
On the other hand, the craftwork programme is split into two programmes.
8.1 Growth and competitiveness of the craft business
- Beneficiaries: Freelancers and businesses (excluding food craftwork)
- Requirements: minimum investment of €1,000 – projects operational before 2022
- Grant: up to 100% eligible – maximum of €2,000
8.2 Support for municipalities in the craftwork sphere
- Beneficiaries: Town councils and public bodies
- Requirements: 1. Submit a justification report and minimum investment of €3,000 / 2. Organiser of the craft fair or market
- Grant: up to 50% eligible – maximum of €7,000
Finally, the Fashion programme, which includes:
9. Programme for the reactivation and transformation of Catalan fashion
- Beneficiaries: Freelancers and fashion and textile design businesses
- Requirements: Minimum investment of €1,000 – establishment based in Catalonia
- Grant: up to 100% eligible – maximum of €3,000
For additional information you can go to this link and take a closer look at which programme would best fit your business model.
To apply for the grant, head to this link and complete the steps indicated.
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