Spanish villages are ready to pay for those who want to move
In Spain, several programs and initiatives have been launched in recent years to attract new residents to the country’s villages. They can be offered a guaranteed job, a home, and even thousands of euros in cash. This is how municipalities fight depopulation. After all, many Spanish villages were deserted, and even Ghost towns appeared in the country.
Ponga, located in Asturias in the North of the country, was one of the villages trying to make up for the lack of inhabitants. The population has declined significantly in recent years. To solve this problem, the local authorities provide a grant of 3,000 euros to all couples who are ready to settle in the village for permanent residence. And for each child born, another 3,000 euros will be offered.
One of the oldest villages in Spain, Olmeda de La Cuesta in the province of Cuenca, has also suffered a sharp decline in population. Because of this, the local mayor decided to put the land plots up for auction at a very low price. Prices ranged from 200 to 3,000 euros depending on the size of the plot. In total, more than 40 plots were sold with the obligation to build houses on them within 3 years.
Galicia in Northern Spain also has several sparsely populated villages. Rubia in the province of Ourense offers new residents 100-150 euros per month. And the village of San Fiz da Pola in the province of Pontevedra provides houses, the rental price of which is only 100 euros per month.
The city of Arganza in the province of Leon offers free homes for families with two or more children to avoid the closure of the local school. The town Alicate Almeria did something similar, offering free homes to families with children. And in Retortillo de Soria in the region of Castile and Leon, they provide work for the unemployed.
Among them, the village of Miravete de La Sierra in the province of Teruel, which developed a PR campaign to attract new residents, stood out. The authorities decided to emphasize the advantages of a peaceful and quiet life in the village. The idea of living without stress appealed to more than 700 people who were tired of the hustle and bustle of big cities. This program did not include cash benefits, low rents, or guaranteed work, but offered only promises of a peaceful and peaceful lifestyle. And that was enough.
