The grant scheme to support commercial activity in rural areas, run by the Secretariat of State for Trade, forms part of Component 13 of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, “Boosting SMEs”, under Investment 4, which supports the retail sector within the local economy.

The aim of these grants is to promote job creation and social cohesion by funding projects that enhance competitiveness, innovation and the modernisation of distribution channels in local authorities with up to 5,000 inhabitants—particularly those in sparsely populated areas or with low population density. They also seek to encourage commercial activity and distribution through the use of technology, driving digital transformation.

These measures will help maintain a high-quality retail offering capable not only of ensuring the supply of goods to the population, but also of attracting consumers within its catchment area. They will create synergies between municipalities, businesses and residents, facilitating both the purchase and delivery of goods—key factors in stabilising population levels and tackling depopulation.

This grant scheme will contribute to achieving target CID 212 (as set out in the Council Implementing Decision), namely the completion of 100 projects aimed at modernising commercial infrastructure in small municipalities.

Eligible expenditure to support retail activity in rural areas

• Digital transformation costs: investments to introduce, maintain or improve retail sales functionalities; implementation of promotional campaigns on social media, apps or websites; and expenditure on advertising, communication and visibility across various digital media and platforms.
• Point-of-sale transformation costs: investments aimed at establishing a new retail outlet or improving an existing one.
• Sustainability and circular economy costs: investments to reduce the use of single-use products by businesses and consumers; implementation of technological solutions and measures to improve energy efficiency and the use of other utilities; acquisition of equipment for proper waste recycling; and any other actions or solutions aimed at increasing sustainability, adapting to climate change, and improving business model efficiency.
• Supply chain and traceability costs: investment in projects that, through the use of new technologies, create local or short supply and communication networks involving some or all of the following stakeholders: retailers, local producers and related service providers; digitalisation of purchase and sales records; smart labelling technologies.
• Awareness-raising and training costs: initiatives to build skills and provide training in the use and management of technological tools in retail, digital marketing, and the use and analysis of data linked to online sales; as well as promoting circular economy strategies, waste prevention and product reuse.

Further details of the procedure can be found on the Ministry’s website.​