Castilla‑La Mancha allocates €5.5 million to boost entrepreneurship in depopulated rural areas

The regional government of Castilla‑La Mancha announced a €5.5 million investment for 2025 to support the creation and consolidation of entrepreneurial projects in depopulated zones. 1,242 self‑employed workers from those areas received aid amounting to €3.8 million, while a flat‑rate subsidy for the first two years of activity benefitted 1,730 entrepreneurs with €1.7 million. The measures mean that roughly 45 % of new self‑employed individuals in the region are based in rural, sparsely‑populated municipalities.

Commissioner for the Demographic Challenge Jesús Alique presented the data at the “Berninches Conecta Rural 2026” event, highlighting a net positive migration of 20,036 people since the introduction of the law against depopulation, and a rise of 4,010 residents (7.45 %) in the province of Guadalajara since 2021.