The “Stay, create and grow” project, promoted by ATA Castilla-La Mancha and the Provincial Council of Ciudad Real, has offered free advice in the municipality, including visits to local establishments and an activity with the students of the IES Vicente Cano.
More than 95% of the business fabric of Argamasilla de Alba is made up of self-employed workers and micro-businesses, as highlighted by the Councilor for Employment and Entrepreneurship, Yared Sánchez, who also warned of the importance of facing the generational change of local businesses.
The Argamasilla de Alba City Council hosted this Thursday, October 8, a new day of the “Stay, create and grow” project, an initiative developed by the Association of Self-Employed Workers of Castilla-La Mancha (ATA CLM), in collaboration with the Provincial Council of Ciudad Real, to provide free and personalized advice to self-employed workers, small business owners and people interested in entrepreneurship.
The day included the participation of the mayor of Argamasilla de Alba and second vice president of the Provincial Council of Ciudad Real, Sonia González; the president of ATA Castilla-La Mancha, Miguel Ángel Rivero; and the Councilor for Employment, Business and Entrepreneurship, Yared Sánchez.
During the day, ATA technicians offered in-person care at the Multipurpose Social Center, but also They went directly to businesses and establishments in Argamasilla de Albabringing information and advice closer to the workplaces themselves. The initiative made it possible to address issues related to aid and subsidies, administrative procedures, business needs and opportunities to improve their activity.
The self-employed, fundamental for the economy of Argamasilla de Alba
During her speech, Sonia González highlighted the importance of self-employed workers and small business owners in maintaining economic activity and services in rural municipalities such as Argamasilla de Alba.
The mayor stressed that those who open their establishments daily not only generate employment and wealth, but also contribute to keeping the towns alive. In this sense, he defended the need for administrations to bring resources and tools to support entrepreneurship to all municipalities, regardless of their size.
For his part, Yared Sánchez put figures on the importance of self-employment in the town, pointing out that More than 95% of the business fabric of Argamasilla de Alba is made up of self-employed workers and micro-businesseswith a special connection to the agricultural sector and activities related to the transformation of farm products.
The councilor highlighted that initiatives like this make it possible to resolve doubts common to different sectors, from commerce and agriculture to small workshops and service businesses, making it easier for those responsible to have more information to make decisions.
Likewise, he stressed the need to accompany those who want to start a business activity, especially in the face of the bureaucratic and economic difficulties involved in starting a business.
Generational change, one of the main challenges
One of the issues that focused on the interventions was the future of the traditional establishments of Argamasilla de Alba.
As Yared Sánchez explained, approximately 80% of those responsible for the small businesses he referred to belong to the generation of the baby boomwhich poses a significant challenge for the coming years given the arrival of numerous retirements.
The councilor highlighted that work is already being done at the municipal level to inform local businesses and companies about the possibilities of generational change, with the aim of promoting the continuity of establishments that have been providing service to residents for decades.
He also pointed out the importance of these businesses being able to adapt to new technologies and changes in economic activity models.
Along these same lines, Miguel Ángel Rivero defended the need to avoid the closure of establishments due to lack of continuity and explained that ATA is proposing to the Communities Board measures related to active retirement that can facilitate a transition between the current owners and the new generations of entrepreneurs.
The regional president of ATA insisted that the disappearance of a business represents a loss that goes beyond economic activity, especially in small municipalities, where local commerce and services play an essential role.
The project also reaches the young people of the IES Vicente Cano
The day was completed with a visit to the IES Vicente Cano of Argamasilla de Albawhere institutional representatives and ATA technicians brought the students closer to the professional possibilities offered by self-employment.
The activity allowed us to focus on entrepreneurship as a job alternative and on the opportunities presented by certain trades, such as carpentry, masonry, plumbing or electricity, in which there is a significant need for professionals.
During her speech to the students, Sonia González highlighted the importance of young people knowing the different future options available to them and being able to value self-employment as a real possibility of professional development.
The mayor told the students that young people represent the future of Argamasilla de Alba and defended that institutions must offer them information, training and tools that help them make decisions about their career path.
The visit also allowed them to complement the training they receive at the educational center with the experience and knowledge of ATA professionals.
A provincial project that has served more than 150 self-employed workers
The president of ATA Castilla-La Mancha explained that “Stay, create and grow” is being developed for the second consecutive year thanks to the collaboration with the Provincial Council of Ciudad Real.
The program, endowed with an investment of 50,000 euros, has been extended to 12 municipalities in the six regions of the province, combining face-to-face advice with telematic attention.
According to the data provided by Miguel Ángel Rivero, until the week before the Argamasilla de Alba event, 151 autonomous through advice points and visits by technicians to their establishments. Likewise, eight talks had been held in institutes, to which was added the one held at the IES Vicente Cano.
Rivero also highlighted the importance of developing a viability plan before starting an economic activity, warning that aid and subsidies should serve as support, but not constitute the only basis on which a business project is based.
Likewise, he pointed out excessive bureaucracy as one of the main problems that self-employed workers currently face and called for measures to facilitate their activity and improve their social protection.
Municipal commitment to employment and economic activity
Sonia González took advantage of the day to highlight the work carried out by the Department of Employment, Business and Entrepreneurship, highlighting the training initiatives, support for job placement and the municipal aid lines aimed at small businesses and the self-employed.
The mayor also pointed out the favorable evolution of unemployment figures and the actions promoted to promote the improvement of existing establishments and business innovation.
With the celebration of this day, the Argamasilla de Alba City Council continues to promote collaboration with other administrations and specialized entities to bring resources closer to the local economic fabric, promote entrepreneurship and contribute to the municipality’s businesses having opportunities for continuity and growth.
Source: www.argamasilladealba.es
