Good practice:

Subsidies for Rural Retail provided by the Government of Aragon

- What is the problem addressed and the context which triggered the introduction of the practice?
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 Common problems:
 High level of depopulation
 Ageing society
 Effects of seasonal increases in population.
 Deficient transport connection

- How does the practice reach its objectives and how it is implemented?

- Collaboration Agreements between the Central Government and the Government of Aragon signed in the periods 2016-2019 and 2020-2023 to finance actions in the depopulated area of Teruel. In addition, there have been annual announcements for subsidies for investment and improvement business initiatives in trade SMES in the province of Teruel since 2017.

- The Collaboration Agreements signed annually since 2005 between Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Services and the Government of Aragon
- Who are the main stakeholders and beneficiaries of the practice?

Actors involved:
o FITE: Commercial SMES and Government of Aragon
o Chambers of commerce: Trade Associations, Commercial SMES, Town Councils and Government of Aragon

Human resources:
 Personnel of the General Directorate of Trade, Fairs and Crafts and of the Teruel Provincial Service.
 Chambers of Commerce
 Trade Associations, Local Entities
Financial resources
 Amount 1.250.000 euros FITE grants, and 375.000 euros collaboration agreements for 3 years

• In the period 2017-2019 the budget dedicated to the various programs has generated an investment of 4.250.000 euros.
• The Collaboration Agreements signed with the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Services, the value of the consultancy has reached the amount of 470,000 euros

Improve the evaluation of projects in order to focus the grants on those that have the greatest impact on the territory.

Key success factors
• Many trade SMES benefited from the FITE subsidies were able to reform and equip their commercial establishments
• Advice and support received from the Chambers, through the Agreement between the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Services and the Government of Aragon,

Negative aspects
• Low co-financing capacity of trade SMES in the sector.