Salas looks for entrepreneurs and offers help to live and work
The Asturian council of Salas, one of the most emblematic places in the Primitive Way of Santiago, has decided to make a move in the face of a problem that increasingly affects more rural areas in northern Spain: the lack of generational change.
With barely 4,700 inhabitants, the municipality is looking for new neighbors willing to undertake, open businesses and give life to the town. And to achieve this, the City Council and different initiatives linked to rural development are offering financial aid, facilities to rehabilitate homes and support to those who want to settle in the area.
The situation is beginning to be worrying in some sectors. In recent months, the town's sweet shop has closed and the bakery could do so soon due to the retirement of its owner. There are no longer any businesses such as butcher shops or fishmongers, and young people hardly have any leisure spaces.
But Salas does not want to give up.
The town, crossed by the Camino Primitivo and closely linked to pilgrim tourism, wants to take advantage of precisely that potential to attract new families and entrepreneurs. The municipality considers that there is still room to open bars, restaurants, rural accommodation, small businesses or services for both residents and pilgrims.
In addition to Jacobean tourism, the local economy also relies on the livestock and agricultural sector, especially beef farms, kiwi, bean and blueberry crops. The City Council considers that there are still real opportunities for those who want to invest in rural areas.
Measures to attract population include aid linked to Leader funds, tax facilities to rehabilitate homes, industrial land at affordable prices and future coworking spaces for entrepreneurs and teleworkers. The Principality also provides services such as school transportation and free dining for families with children who decide to move to the municipality.
The project also has the support of Holapueblo, an initiative promoted by AlmaNatura to connect towns in need of population and people interested in entrepreneurship outside of large cities.
One of the strong points of Salas is precisely its balance between rural tranquility and good connection. The municipality is located less than 50 kilometers from Oviedo and about 30 minutes from both Asturias and Avilés airports. In addition, it has fiber optics and a 5G connection, something essential for those who telework.
Added to this is that the town maintains basic services that are unusual in small rural areas: a health center with 24-hour care, schools, supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, sports facilities and different cultural and festive activities throughout the year.
The case of Salas reflects a reality that is increasingly repeated in numerous municipalities along the Camino de Santiago: towns with enormous heritage and tourist value that urgently need new neighbors to keep their businesses and services alive.
And while many cities suffer from housing problems, stress and overcrowding, more and more people are beginning to look towards places like this, where it is still possible to start a business, live more peacefully and be part of a small but active community.
The Camino de Santiago, once again, once again becomes an engine of opportunities for the rural world.
