About 200 businesses in Benidorm benefit from grants against Covid-19

The Local Government Board (JGL) has resolved today the municipal aid to local commerce against the effects of Covid-19, from which "about 200 commercial establishments in Benidorm will be benefited," as reported by the councilor of Employment and Local Promotion, Mónica Gómez, who recalled that "this line of aid has been financed through a grant of 196,960 euros granted by the Alicante Provincial Council".

Gómez explained that "the maximum aid per establishment has been located at 971 euros, widely exceeding the amount initially planned". In this regard, she has clarified that "as we already indicated when the bases were approved, this initial amount could be increased in the event that the approved applications did not finish the budget reserved for aid, as has happened." Hence, "the amount that has finally corresponded to each establishment has been set according to the number of beneficiaries and the eligible expenses justified by each one of them."

The person in charge of Employment and Local Development recalled that these aid were aimed at SMEs and freelancers who as of March 14 were registered in the Economic Activities Tax (IAE) in the groups and headings established in the bases. Most of the rejected applications correspond to businesses registered under ineligible IAE headings.

The councillor has stressed that "SMEs and freelancers registered in the groups and headings indicated who suspended their activity due to the entry into force of the state of alarm or, failing that, who saw the invoicing of the establishment of the months of April and May at least 50% with respect to the previous calendar semester ”.

Gómez has pointed out that "this line of aid to local commerce is part of the actions implemented by the City Council to mitigate the economic effects of Covid-19 and contribute to the recovery of the local productive fabric and the maintenance of employment." Among these measures are municipal aid to companies, SMEs, businesses and the self-employed; aid to the taxi sector; the suspension of the fee for the installation of tables and chairs on public roads throughout 2021; the freezing of taxes and public prices; direct aid related to the receipt of garbage; the waiver of the salary increase by political representatives and advisers; or the extension of the prizes of the Christmas Window Dressing Contest with the creation of second prizes of 350 euros for all participating establishments.