2021 MINER AND MINIMINER CALL FOR APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN, WITH NON-REFUNDABLE GRANTS OF UP TO 35%

At IMPULSO, we are pleased to inform you that the MINISTRY FOR THE ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION AND THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGE has now opened the 2021 call under the aid programme for business projects that create jobs and promote the alternative development of mining areas (MINER), with a total budget allocation of €20 million, which may be increased by a further €2 million.

It has also opened the 2021 call under the aid programme for small investment projects that create or maintain employment, promoting the alternative development of mining areas (MINIMINER), with a total budget allocation of €7 million.

Below, we summarize the main characteristics of these grants:

BENEFICIARIES

Private individuals or legal entities with legal personality, as well as groupings made up of them, civil-law partnerships and self-employed workers who will undertake job-creating projects in the defined areas.

ELIGIBLE AREAS: certain municipalities in areas affected by the restructuring of coal mining in Aragon (in the provinces of Teruel, Zaragoza and Huesca), Asturias, Castilla-La Mancha (in the province of Ciudad Real) and Castile and León (in the provinces of León and Palencia).

PROJECT TYPES

Business investment projects that create jobs in eligible areas, in all economic activities except those expressly excluded in the governing order.

• MINER: the steel, coal, shipbuilding, synthetic fibres, transport, fisheries and aquaculture, agriculture, and energy and airport sectors are excluded, …). In the services sector, all are excluded except industrial services to businesses, care homes for older people, activities related to rural tourism, leisure, the environment and free time, and services aimed at developing the information society, innovation and new technologies.
• MINIMINER: the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, primary production of agricultural products, processing and marketing of agricultural products (as applicable), the coal industry, … are excluded.

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

• Investment:
  • MINER: ≥ €100,000 (at least 50% of the planned investment must be executed, always ensuring the minimum investment of €100,000).
  • MINIMINER: €30,000–€500,000 (at least 50% of the planned investment must be executed, always ensuring the minimum investment of €30,000).
• Job creation: between the application date and the latest date established by the decision:
  • MINER: ≥ 3 jobs.
  • MINIMINER: ≥ 1 job.
• Implementation period: from the final award decision:
  • MINER: maximum 24 months.
  • MINIMINER: maximum 18 months.
• Requirement to implement and pay, at least, 10% of the investment within the 6 calendar months following the date of receipt of the final decision.
• At least 25% of eligible costs must be financed with own resources or external financing, without public aid.
• Incentive effect. Projects must not have started.
• Compatible with other aid.

ELIGIBLE COSTS

• Acquisition of land necessary for implementing the project.
• Utility connections and supply lines.
• Site development and external works.
• Civil works.
• Capital equipment.
• Planning, project engineering and professional supervision of the works (maximum 8% of civil works + capital equipment).
• Tangible fixed assets.
• Intangible assets considered depreciable assets (patents, licenses, etc.).

TYPE AND INTENSITY OF AID

Non-repayable grant ranging from 10-35% depending on the type of company and the project’s location.

Beneficiaries may request advance payments of up to 85% of the maximum aid awarded, subject to the deposit of bank guarantees.

In the case of MINIMINER, the aid is subject to the de minimis rule.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Open from 23/04/2021 to 23/06/2021.

BUDGET ALLOCATION:

• MINER: €20 million, which may be increased by a further €2 million.
• MINIMINER: €7 million.

22/04/2021