The plan, approved by the Government last October, primarily targets municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, EMDs, and regional capitals with populations under 15,000. In the Lleida region, these entities collectively represent nearly 141,000 inhabitants.
The Government's delegate in Lleida, Núria Gil, and the Director General of Local Administration, Francesc Belver, presented the initiative to mayors and councilors from the region at an informational session in Menàrguens. The 'Pla de Pobles' aims to address challenges such as population aging, demographic decline, housing access difficulties, and the need to strengthen local services and economic opportunities.
The program will be implemented through four annual calls for proposals, each with 100 million euros, funding actions in urban renewal, historical heritage and tourism, housing and residential regeneration, and economic activity zones. According to Francesc Belver, the plan seeks to complement the 'Llei de Barris i Viles' for smaller municipalities.
Núria Gil emphasized the importance of supporting rural areas to ensure that all citizens, regardless of where they live or their numbers, have equal opportunities and quality of life. Across Catalonia, the plan targets 725 municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, 65 EMDs, and 17 regional capitals with under 15,000 inhabitants, totaling over 940,000 residents.
Distribution criteria include subsidies covering 98% to 100% of costs, with municipal co-financing ranging from 0% to 2%. Grants will vary from 500,000 euros for municipalities and EMDs under 500 inhabitants to 6 million euros for regional capitals under 15,000 inhabitants. The regulatory bases will be published in November, with the call for applications opening before the end of the year and submissions due in January 2027.
