The Zaragoza Provincial Council launches the most ambitious aid program in its history with 130 million euros to combat depopulation in the province.
Launch of the +Province Plan: A Historic Step for Zaragoza
The Zaragoza Provincial Council will soon initiate the +Province Plan, an extraordinary grant line of 130 million euros aimed at all municipalities in the province to fight depopulation. This initiative will become the largest aid plan in the institution’s history, surpassing any previously received funding by Zaragoza town halls.
Essential Details of the +Province Plan
Distribution and Beneficiaries The 292 municipalities of the Zaragoza province will be able to access these grants to build or rehabilitate homes intended to attract new residents, as well as to make investments in basic services such as water supply, sanitation, paving, street lighting, parks, cemeteries, waste management, and security.
Population-based Allocation System The funds will be distributed by population brackets, particularly benefiting smaller towns. The grants will range from 240,000 euros for municipalities with up to 150 inhabitants to 2.5 million euros for those with more than 16,000 inhabitants. Each town hall will be able to finance up to three different projects with these resources.
Responses from Leaders to the +Province Plan
Historical Significance of the Plan The president of the Zaragoza Provincial Council, Juan Antonio Sánchez Quero, emphasized that this is «the largest aid plan ever received by the municipalities of the province.» He pointed out that depopulation «remains the biggest problem faced by municipalities, and every day that passes without taking action worsens the situation.»
Comparison with Other Aid Sánchez Quero noted that the +Province Plan «multiplies by six the amount allocated to the municipalities of Zaragoza, Huesca, and Teruel through the Municipal Financing Fund from the Government of Aragon and also multiplies by 13 what localities in the province receive from the Government of Aragon.»
In the last three years, 134 municipalities have continued to lose population, and nearly one-third of the towns in the province are at extreme risk of extinction, surviving with fewer than 100 inhabitants. This situation justifies the urgency of the measures taken.
Application Deadlines The program’s guidelines will be published soon in the Official Bulletin of the Province of Zaragoza, and the town halls will be able to submit their applications until September 15.
Temporal Distribution The plan, which spans multiple years (2025/2026), will advance 117 million euros this year after approval in full council. The remaining 13 million will be transferred once the projects are certified, with 90% of the amount being initially disbursed and the final 10% reserved for settlement.
Equitable Distribution According to Population
The allocation criterion based on population brackets ensures that 251 of the 295 municipalities and smaller local entities in Zaragoza (those with fewer than 1,200 inhabitants) will receive a higher investment per inhabitant than the more populated municipalities. This system seeks to harmonize equity and solidarity, ensuring resources for strategic projects that improve the lives of residents and strengthen territorial cohesion.
