The JGL approves new grants to minimize the effects of Covid-19 on local commerce

The Benidorm City Council has received from the Alicante Provincial Council a grant of 196,960 euros to minimize the impact that Covid-19 has caused on the economic and business fabric, as reported today by the mayor, Toni Pérez, and the Councilor for Employment and Local Development, Mónica Gómez, who have advanced that this amount will be allocated to "a new line of aid to SMEs, micro-SMEs and freelancers who carry out their commercial activity in Benidorm." A line of aid with which "we continue to serve our companies and freelancers, contributing to the maintenance of the activity and employment generated by local commerce", and which "adds to the one launched by the City Council and with which they have already more than 330,000 euros injected into the local productive fabric ”.

As explained by the mayor, the Local Government Board (JGL) has approved today the bases for the granting of these aids, from which "SMEs, micro-SMEs or small entrepreneurs dedicated to the retail trade in Benidorm who as a result of the state of alarm, they had to temporarily close their businesses or saw their billing significantly reduced ”, and which initially provide a maximum amount per establishment of 400 euros. However, if the anticipated 196,690 euros are not finished with the approved applications, the grant per establishment will increase depending on the number of beneficiaries.

The Councilor for Employment has detailed that "SMEs and freelancers registered in group 65 of the Economic Activities Tax - except for groups 652 and 655, and headings 6532, 6534, 6535 and 6592 - can apply for these aids. March 14, that they suspend their activity due to the entry into force of the alarm state or, failing that, that they see the establishment's billing for the months of April and May reduced by at least 50% compared to the previous calendar semester ”.

Gómez has indicated that expenses such as "the monthly rent of the business or commercial vehicles 100% affected by the business activity affected by the pandemic are understood as" eligible items ". Also, eligible items will be "consulting and advisory expenses incurred as a result of the state of alarm or those corresponding to the supply of energy, water, telephone or internet for the business."

The Councilor for Employment and Local Development has advanced that "these grants may be requested electronically through the Electronic Headquarters of the City Council (https://benidorm.org/inicio) from the day after the publication of the bases in the Official Gazette of the Province and for 10 calendar days ”. In addition to the application form, the full content of the bases will also be available on the web site.

The criteria for the grants among applicants who meet all the requirements established in the bases and until the available credit is sold out will be the order of presentation of the application.