The Adeje council has announced that from tomorrow, August 25th, applications for a business grant aid package for small and medium businesses and the self-employed can be made. The grants are to assist those that suffered during the state of emergency. Applications can be made until September 22nd 2020 and can only be presented online via the Adeje council webpage (
www.adeje.es/Index.asp, click on Sede Electronica)
The grants, approved at the most recent sitting of the council, are destined for small and medium enterprises, businesses with less than 5 employees, or the self-employed who both have employees or work alone. There is also a programme for assistance directly for taxi drivers in line with an agreement reached with their cooperative. In Adeje almost 80% of the companies fall into the above category, with less than 5 employees, and were also the sector most affected by the pandemic. They represented 73% of businesses whose employees have been in receipt of ERTE.
“This pandemic has led to a potential destruction of jobs in many businesses and companies who have suffered directly as a result of this crisis, who have had to cease trading, or reduce it significantly”, explained Manuel Luis Méndez, councillor for economic development, saying that the grants were to offset that.
Each business (with less than 5 employees) or self-employed person affected can apply for the assistance to help in avoiding closure of the business or loss of jobs. The council will grant at least €400 to any company that meets the requirements, with additional top-ups available depending on the company or individual’s circumstances. And while the council are currently investing nine hundred thousand euros in the scheme they will find alternative funding if needed to continue. This money is also additional to any help received from the Tenerife Cabildo or the regional government.
Those companies who wish to apply must be based and registered in Adeje, with 5 employees or fewer, or have their business open at the time of the application for grant aid – these are just some of the requirements. The main activity of the company must have been directly affected by the closing of the business during the state of emergency declared nationally on March 14th, or the business income of the company reduced by 75% in April in comparison to the average business carried out between September 2019 and February 2020. Companies and individuals will have up to 20 days to apply.
The council have allocated a further one million euros for policies to activate employment with the aim of creating 400 jobs in the next 11 months, and they are already hiring training personnel to work on creating jobs that meet the new needs that have evolved as a result of this pandemic.
Adeje are also currently employing professionals to give ‘catch-up’ classes to children from families with few resources, and in the social services department with additional home help personnel for older people or those who are housebound.
The Adeje budget for 2020 is concentrating on job creation, avoiding the closure of business/loss of existing jobs, training for employment and helping the self-employed and small and medium enterprises, with the council spending 270% more in this area than in 2019.
