Grants of up to 15,000 euros for entrepreneurs in La Raya, Salamanca, and Zamora

The Foundation for Business Anchorage and Training for Employment has published in the Bocyl (Spanish National Registry of Businesses) its first call for proposals, endowed with €1 million, to promote self-employment in the 175 municipalities in the provinces of Salamanca and Zamora included in the La Raya Plan. This Plan provides additional points for subsidies for business creation, tourism projects, the creation of industrial land, business financing, the launch of a Project Bank, and cross-border cooperation.

The Regional Government of Castile and León, through the Ministry of Economy and Finance, will provide subsidies of €15,000 to entrepreneurs who start or have started a self-employed economic activity and who have registered as self-employed workers between January 1, 2025, and September 15, 2026 , in any of the 175 municipalities of 'La Raya' ('La Raya') of Salamanca and Zamora.

The Regional Ministry has allocated a budget of €1 million and published the regulatory framework for this aid within the scope of the La Raya Socioeconomic Plan in the Official Gazette (Bocyl) on May 30. This Plan, recently approved by the Regional Government, has a total allocation of €90.7 million and a six-year term . Its objectives are economic development, strengthening territorial cohesion, establishing population, and improving cross-border cooperation.

The application period for these grants is open until September 30, 2026 , and is managed by the Foundation for Business Anchorage and Employment Training in Castilla y León, a public foundation that manages programs to support self-employment and entrepreneurship in various regions of the Community. The call for applications can be found at: www.fafecyl.jcyl.es

Applicants must prove they incurred start-up expenses for self-employment , amounting to no less than €5,000 between three months prior to (six months for the purchase of real estate) and the three months following registration. These expenses may relate to the purchase of real estate, transfer fees, furniture and equipment, machinery, tools, computer equipment and applications, vehicles, external services, etc. They must maintain this activity for at least two uninterrupted years from the date of registration.

Promoting entrepreneurship is a key factor in strengthening the productive fabric and one of the most significant structural efforts related to the costs associated with starting new businesses. Therefore, in a region like La Raya, which presents particular difficulties in establishing business projects, it is appropriate to incentivize individuals and legal entities to start an economic activity by establishing their business in one of the region's municipalities as a driving force that contributes to boosting the region's economic activity.

The La Raya Plan will invest 90.7 million euros to promote economic development, entrepreneurship, tourism, and cross-border cooperation in 175 municipalities in Salamanca and Zamora, for a period of six years.

In addition to grants of at least €15,000 for entrepreneurs to finance the start-up of their business, the Plan provides additional funding for regional government subsidies for business creation and tourism projects in the municipalities of La Raya. It also promotes the creation, improvement, and development of industrial land, prioritizing strategic municipal projects in the provinces of Salamanca and Zamora with at least €20 million.

A Comprehensive Tourism Strategy will be launched for a major linear tourism product, the "Iberian Strip of Castile and León," connecting tourist destinations throughout the region with synergies with the Camino de Santiago, the Duero River, and wine culture. In addition, €10 million will be allocated to a seed capital and venture capital fund for viable business creation and growth initiatives, and a €1 million Innovative Project Bank will be allocated to harnessing endogenous resources.

Within the Plan, the Regional Government will promote cross-border cooperation in the development of the "La Raya" brand through innovation and digitalization, the use of endogenous resources, and the tourism strategy, for economic development, population growth, and quality of life.