The local government of Santander has approved a new round of the ‘Santander Crea y Emplea’ grants, aimed at boosting employment, entrepreneurship, and business development with a budget exceeding €1.15 million.
Chabela Gómez-Barreda, the city’s councillor for Employment, explained that the ‘Santander Crea’ programme is designed to encourage entrepreneurship and the creation of new business initiatives, particularly among young people and women aged 45 and over.
For applicants aged 30 or younger (or 35 for those with disabilities), grants will range from €2,000 to €5,000. Other beneficiaries can receive funding covering up to 100% of their investment and start-up costs, capped at €3,000, with a minimum investment requirement of €1,000.
Eligible expenses for funding include the purchase or rental of premises related to the business activity, business equipment, machinery, tools, as well as office and computer equipment. Investments in software, websites, email platforms, and application development are also covered, along with costs for strategic studies, professional fees, project licenses, and other formal obligations related to starting a business.
The ‘Santander Emplea’ initiative aims to help young people gain their first work experience, encourage the employment of women aged 45 and over, and facilitate the return of young residents who have moved away for work.
Grants under this programme amount to €4,000 per formalised contract, with a maximum of three subsidised contracts per entity. This amount increases to €5,000 for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Applications for the grants will be accepted once the announcement is published in the Official Bulletin of Cantabria (BOC), within the specified timeframe. Notably, this year’s announcement allows applicants 20 calendar days from the publication date in the BOC to make the necessary hires or investments as outlined in the regulatory bases.
