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Rural MultiServices in Aragón (Spain)
Published on 19 September 2019

Spain
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
It is a business activity that provides basic services to the population in places where there are not or are going to disappear activities so useful like shops.
The main objective is to improve rural retail activity with complementary services:
-Shop of basic consumer goods.
-Coffee, restaurant and leisure, as meeting place.
-Turistic as information desk.
-Accommodation.
-Internet (WiFi), hairdresser, handicraft, library, post office, medicines...
-Additional services (home delivery, thematic parties, play center...)
The problem addressed and the context are:
o Low feasibility of the private initiatives in depopulated territories
o Depopulation
o Ageing of the population
o Lack of services
o Low training of the entrepreneurs
o Low knowledge of the reality of rural environment
Since 2003 this project has been consolidated thanks to the cooperation of the Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Teruel with the provincial and regional administrations, giving a specific line of grants to this model through its local Governments that decide to open and equip a MultiService center. The brand is registered by ©CámaraTeruel since 2010 and the main tasks of the Chamber is monitoring of Multiservices’ network, viability analysis, promotion and dissemination of this kind of centers, training to entrepreneurs and awareness-raising about local consumption.
The actors involved are the city councils, entities, entrepreneurs and the population.
The main objective is to improve rural retail activity with complementary services:
-Shop of basic consumer goods.
-Coffee, restaurant and leisure, as meeting place.
-Turistic as information desk.
-Accommodation.
-Internet (WiFi), hairdresser, handicraft, library, post office, medicines...
-Additional services (home delivery, thematic parties, play center...)
The problem addressed and the context are:
o Low feasibility of the private initiatives in depopulated territories
o Depopulation
o Ageing of the population
o Lack of services
o Low training of the entrepreneurs
o Low knowledge of the reality of rural environment
Since 2003 this project has been consolidated thanks to the cooperation of the Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Teruel with the provincial and regional administrations, giving a specific line of grants to this model through its local Governments that decide to open and equip a MultiService center. The brand is registered by ©CámaraTeruel since 2010 and the main tasks of the Chamber is monitoring of Multiservices’ network, viability analysis, promotion and dissemination of this kind of centers, training to entrepreneurs and awareness-raising about local consumption.
The actors involved are the city councils, entities, entrepreneurs and the population.
Expert opinion
This is an interesting programme supporting rural employment and ensuring basic services in the area. The local government is responsible for setting up the location of the Rural MultiService center. They then seek for entrepreneurs who will take over the day-to-day management of the location.
In addition, the Chamber of Commerce offers advisory and training services to the Rural MultiService location managers. Thanks to the programme around 100 jobs have been created or retained in the rural areas and the quality of life has been sustained thanks to the additional services available at the centers. As this program has been run in multiple provinces of Spain for nearly two decades there is much to learn from this practice by other policy makers seeking to boost the quality of life in rural areas.
In addition, the Chamber of Commerce offers advisory and training services to the Rural MultiService location managers. Thanks to the programme around 100 jobs have been created or retained in the rural areas and the quality of life has been sustained thanks to the additional services available at the centers. As this program has been run in multiple provinces of Spain for nearly two decades there is much to learn from this practice by other policy makers seeking to boost the quality of life in rural areas.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
-Human resources: Own staff of the Chamber of Commerce.
-Financial resources: About 23,500€/year in the Region of Aragón, through an annual collaboration agreement: 80% financed by Regional Government of Aragón and the 20% financed by Aragon’s Official Chambers of Commerce (Huesca,Zaragoza,Teruel)
-Financial resources: About 23,500€/year in the Region of Aragón, through an annual collaboration agreement: 80% financed by Regional Government of Aragón and the 20% financed by Aragon’s Official Chambers of Commerce (Huesca,Zaragoza,Teruel)
Evidence of success
75 Rural MultiService (RMS) establishments in the Province of Teruel, 18 RMS in the Province of Huesca and 20 RMS in the Province of Zaragoza so more than 100 entrepreneurs= jobs, mainly female, because each RMS centre is managed by, at least, one self-employed (people who want to become entrepreneur).
Keep the population and the quality of life.
In some cases, stay opened the school.
Keep the population and the quality of life.
In some cases, stay opened the school.
Potential for learning or transfer
Key success factors:
-Cooperation Public-Private: the owner of the RMS centres are the local Governments and they equip part of the establishments (furniture, painting...) thanks to an annual subsidy of the Administrations of the Region and the Provinces. When the RMS centre is conditioned the local government looks for people who want to become entrepreneur. The person chosen has to cover the monthly costs of light , social security... as any other private initiative.
-Accompanying and personal advising: The Chamber of Commerce offers assistance to all these centres.
-Economic support from Local and Regional Government: annual subsidy to launch the RMS centres.
-Training and specialisation technique: The Chamber of Commerce gives training to the entrepreneurs who manage these centres.
-Cooperation Public-Private: the owner of the RMS centres are the local Governments and they equip part of the establishments (furniture, painting...) thanks to an annual subsidy of the Administrations of the Region and the Provinces. When the RMS centre is conditioned the local government looks for people who want to become entrepreneur. The person chosen has to cover the monthly costs of light , social security... as any other private initiative.
-Accompanying and personal advising: The Chamber of Commerce offers assistance to all these centres.
-Economic support from Local and Regional Government: annual subsidy to launch the RMS centres.
-Training and specialisation technique: The Chamber of Commerce gives training to the entrepreneurs who manage these centres.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Teruel

Spain
Aragón
Contact
Commerce and Territorial Development Technician