The Municipality of Portimão renewed the exceptional package of social and economic aid measures it created to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. In addition to extending the measures to support families until June, the allocation of one million euros was approved for the second phase of the Municipal Fund for Business Support, «which will benefit independent workers».
The continuity of this support, unanimously approved at the Council Meeting on Wednesday, 7th, is justified by the municipality with the fact that “Covid-19 is causing the biggest drop in economic activity in memory”.
With regard to support for entrepreneurs, the second phase of the Municipal Fund for Entrepreneurial Support of Portimão (FMAEP) will be implemented, «which again has an endowment of one million euros and whose big news is the inclusion of independent workers».
This measure "is intended to support sole proprietors and commercial companies, but also self-employed workers, who have tax domicile or head office in the county or who carry out their activity primarily in this territorial area, in areas such as restaurants and beverages, commerce retail goods, the provision of services, industry, agriculture and fisheries'.
«Candidates must prove abrupt falls in invoicing suffered as a result of Covid-19, and those who have benefited from the first phase of this fund, constituted solely with municipal funds, cannot apply», framed the City Council of Portimão.
To be eligible, candidates must not have had, until December 31, 2019, a turnover higher than 150 thousand euros, in the case of entrepreneurs, and 50 thousand euros, in relation to self-employed workers».
At the same time, they must present «breaks equal to or greater than 40 percent with reference to the same period of the previous year (March to December 2019), regardless of having been forced to close or stop their activity by law or administrative act, thus being able to receive a single support in the amount of 2 thousand euros, granted in a single time».
The submission of applications, which runs from 19 to 30 April, «is done by sending the form, to be made available soon on the website of the municipality of Portimão, duly completed and signed, as well as all the mandatory documentation required, for the e-mail address [email protected], where all doubts or questions should be sent”.
Beneficiaries of the support are obliged to maintain until 31 October 2021, «both the respective open activity and all existing jobs at the date of submission of their application».
“This second budget support package takes into account the fact that local companies are going through a particularly difficult time, of economic vulnerability and cash flow problems in order to meet their short-term commitments, so it is essential to ensure that the establishments remain open and that the respective jobs are ensured», framed the Chamber of Portimão
In the first phase, the support fund received “632 applications, with an approval rate of around 91,6 percent.
Families from Portimo will also continue to have the right to exceptional support, under the Social and Economic Emergency Fund, whose duration was extended until June 30, to «continue to give a helping hand to those who need it most, responding to the growing number of requests for assistance. help".
The measures in question provide, among others, 'the continuation of the suspension of interruption of the water supply and the collection of late payment interest, allowing consumers to pay plans for up to 18 months for bills due between March 2020 and the next month of June, these plans may start on 1 September 2021».
"The social water tariffs in force will also continue to be automatically renewed, enabling the respective application to households with loss of income or proven unemployment," added the Portimão Chamber.
There are currently "640 active social tariffs, with 2020 new social tariffs having been granted in 142 alone, while this year, and until last March, 44 more have already been granted".
On the other hand, "the attribution of the subsidy to support the lease is maintained without the existence of a housing shortage process, verified the emerging need, having already been automatically renewed the 250 existing subsidies, of which 135 were requested in 2020, while this year, and until last March alone, there have been 33 more requests».
"Subsidies for a maximum period of three years in force are covered by the renewal of this measure, with the minimum period of residence in the county being immediately reduced from 5 to 2 years, for the purposes of granting the subsidy to support the lease". warned the municipality.
Also in this field, the payment of social rents in all municipal dwellings will continue to be suspended until June 30th, «date from which tenants may pay all the rents at once, or adhere to payment plans, for 18 months, without interest or penalties'.
Support for the acquisition of medicines will also be maintained, "which are extended to citizens referenced by the municipality and parish councils without an instructed process" and "the minimum time of residence in the municipality will be immediately reduced from 5 to 2 years for attribution of the subsidy to support the acquisition of medications, there are currently 119 annual support for medication. Of these, 108 were granted in 2020 and another 75 this year, only until the end of last March».
The approved measures also include the exemption from municipal fees and occupation of public roads and advertising for commercial establishments with an area of less than 400 square meters, «allowing the opening of new terraces or the extraordinary increase of existing ones, provided they are distancing and staffing measures advised by the Directorate-General for Health are safeguarded».
Entrepreneurs interested in benefiting from this exceptional measure must request the respective permission from the EMARP services, under the regulation that can be consulted here.
The exemption from payment for access to public bathhouses, as well as a 50 percent reduction in the amount of rent charged to operators of the Municipal Market of Av.ª S. João de Deus and public facilities under concession, are other measures approved.
The Municipality of Portimão also decided to renew the Solidarity Card, aimed at the most vulnerable families and which aims to “ensure the purchase of essential foodstuffs, through the issue of solidarity vouchers for purchases at participating establishments”.
Applicants, «whose confidentiality will be safeguarded», must apply by filling out their own application and submitting the requested documents, which are available at the service desk of the municipality's Housing, Social Development and Health Division, responsible for evaluating the applications.
The support to be granted depends on the gross monthly income of the household whose maximum value, per capita, does not exceed the value of 635 euros. For this purpose, four levels were created: 1st – attribution of 250 euros/month; 2nd – 200 euros/month; 3rd – 150 euros/month; 4th – 100 euros/month.
«The beneficiaries of this measure will receive solidarity vouchers in the amount of the support granted, each voucher worth 5 euros, which must be presented to the suppliers indicated by the competent services of the Portimão municipality», concluded the Chamber.
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