The Aragonese Network for Rural Development (RADR) has requested the implementation of financial aid for the self-employed, entrepreneurs and small businesses affected by the forest fires registered this summer in Aragón. The petition is addressed to the regions of Cinco Villas, La Hoya de Huesca, Jacetania, Alto Gállego, the area of Riglos and Ejulve, as well as the rest of the affected Aragonese territories.
The entity points out that the impact of the fires «goes far beyond the obvious environmental catastrophe» and maintains that the fires «paralyze and slow down economic activity in the middle of the high season». Among the sectors affected are rural tourism, hospitality, active tourism, local commerce and agricultural and forestry farms.
The RADR has also made its operational structure available to the Government of Aragon to collaborate in the management of possible aid. The organization considers that its experience in the management of public funds and the territorial presence of the Local Action Groups could contribute to speeding up its processing. According to him, this formula would allow an «agile, direct distribution and with fewer usual bureaucratic obstacles».
Among the measures requested are direct non-refundable aid to cover losses due to cessation of activity and damage to infrastructure, as well as subsidized financing lines and soft loans to provide liquidity and undertake repairs. The RADR also proposes that contingency funds can be channeled through its structure to speed up the assessment and payment to those affected.
The entity considers that «the magnitude of this setback requires a forceful and coordinated public response» and trusts that the Government of Aragon will resort to the management capacity of the Rural Development Groups to process the aid.
