RURAL DEVELOPMENT GROUPS INVESTMENTS CREATE HUNDREDS OF JOBS

35% of the population of Almería (about 240,000 people) live in rural areas, areas at risk of de-population. However, through the efforts of businessmen and entrepreneurs of these regions, with the support of rural development policies, the Board are managing to maintain and, in some cases increase, their population.

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Hence the importance of the development in these territories to secure the population through horizontal policies that are committed to women and youth, as emphasises the territorial delegate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, Jose Manuel Ortiz, who recalled that “from mid-nineties until today, thanks to the policies of the Rural Development Plan of Andalusia, through the action of Rural Development Groups (GDR) hundreds of projects have been launched for companies and entrepreneurs who have contributed to job creation and prevent young people from leaving their villages due to lack of job prospects.”

With data until the first half of this year, the ‘leads’, in the two years he has been running, has helped to create more than 630 jobs with thanks to the more than 300 projects submitted by entrepreneurs and businessmen, who have been approved by the five Rural Development Groups working in the province of Almeria. The total investment of these projects has been 37 million euros, of which about 15.5 million related to state aid approved by the Board of Andalusia.

With the data until the end of June, the GDR Eastern Almería has approved 49 projects, with an investment of 6.4 million euros which will generate about 100 jobs. The grant approved by the Andalusian amounts to 2.8 million euros.

Among the projects approved by the Group for its contribution to employment generation, are the following: the modernisation of Almanzora Bakery industry, with an investment of over 1.2 billion euros, to help maintain 26 jobs; creating horticultural plant Fuensanta in Huércal-Overa, creating 10 jobs with an investment of 767,000€, and expanding rural hotel Cortijo El Sotillo, in the Natural Park Cabo de Gata.

There is also planned investment by the Association of Livestock Health Protection Huércal-Overa of 571,422€) to build a centre for cleaning and disinfection of livestock vehicles. This project, for which the GDR also has approved a grant of 100%, will incorporate a water purification system that can be reused for irrigation of green areas.

The Association ‘La Esperanza’, of Pulpí, meanwhile, will feature support for a project of relocation and expansion of an industrial laundry which employs people with disabilities. With an investment of more than 451,000€, the project will create an additional 8 jobs. The new laundry will incorporate a water purification system, so they can be reused in several washes.

For the creation of a small hotel establishment (hotel Senderos), the developer will invest over 436,000€ in the adaptation of a house located in Aguamarga (Níjar). The project, approved by the territorial council, will generate two jobs.

More than 160 jobs will be generated by the 66 projects approved by the GDR Almanzora. The total investment of these projects amounts to 8.1 million euros, which will have a public subsidy of almost 3.4 million. Among the projects approved, include the launch of a mobile slurry conditioning in pig farms in the region, the construction of a warehouse in the SAT Olisur biomass and rehabilitation of farmhouse Serón to create a resort.

Among the productive projects that have received approval, may be mentioned two separate drying ham. One in Seron, the company Hams Segura, for the purchase of equipment that will improve both products and their services and image. The project, with an investment of 107,000€ and a grant proposal of more than 31,600€, will help to retain 5 jobs. Another for creating a drying of hams in the Hijate (Alcóntar), a project in which the promoters will invest almost 940,000€ and will generate three jobs.

Meanwhile, Pradelia society, a cooperative specializing in home care for dependents, located in Tíjola, has received the approval of the territorial council for its expansion project-making service for home delivery meals-a project with which generate three jobs (one new and two maintenance), and in which they propose to invest almost 107,000 euros, with subsidies public d 27,741 euros.

The equipment for the opening of the largest residential centre in Terque, is one of the most important projects of over a hundred approved by the Alpujarra, Sierra Nevada GDR Almeriense until the first half of this year, projects that together, will generate 170 jobs, with a total investment of around 8.6 million euros and a public subsidy of nearly 3.6 million.

Besides tourism projects and restoration, there will be the building of a rural hotel in Chiran (Berja) and a riding school and horse stables in Abla, that with an investment of more than 660,000€, will receive a grant of 232,000 and generate two jobs. The equestrian centre will be a place for family entertainment, located in the countryside, on an estate of 1,200 square meters.

Other notable projects include:

Launch of La Bodega de Canjáyar-will produce wines, sparkling-primarily, the GDR has approved 23,268€ of public assistance, an investment that will maintain 3 jobs. Another winery, the El Cortijo de la Vieja, Alcolea, receives a grant of 8,550€ for the purchase of machinery for improving the performance of the operation and obtaining new quality wine. A project for the recovery of native rabbits, sponsored by the Society of Hunters Andarax Laujar, will also feature an aid of 4,500€ and repairs to the roof of the Church of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Paterna del Rio will be approved after a grant proposal by the Bishop of Almería.