Competitive advantages of setting up a business in the Empordà

La Bisbal d’Empordà, Forallac, Cruïlles-Monells-Sant Sadurní de l’Heura, Corçà and Ullastret are located at the foot of the Gavarres Massif on the Empordà Plain, traversed by the River Daró. In 2012, the five municipalities brought out a joint Strategic Plan for Local Economic Development and Employment, with the support of the Employment Service of Catalonia.

At that time, an unemployment rate of nearly 20% and over 1500 persons out of work begged the need for a strategy designed to boost the economy, create new jobs, and provide support for existing companies in order to consolidate their places of employment. Today, figures from the fourth quarter of 2016 show an unemployment rate of about 15% and some 1000 persons still out of work in the area.

The five municipalities act as a single economic unit. However, the number of local inhabitants currently in employment exceeds the number of jobs available in the locality; many qualified workers living in the area commute to places of employment befitting their training and educational background. This fact indicates the existence of a pool of potential human capital predisposed to join new companies setting up locally and seeking qualified staff.

The industrial estates in this area comprise a total of 110 hectares, with 35 hectares currently available.

The main urban centre consists of La Bisbal d’Empordà, together with Vulpellac and Fonteta (Forallac), and Puigventós district (Cruïlles). The surrounding area comprises 22 small villages, with Cruïlles, Monells, Sant Sadurní de l’Heura, Peratallada and Canapost, among others, boasting a picturesque medieval charm. Some 15,300 persons live in the area, of which approximately 10,000 are of working age.

Trade and commerce are largely concentrated in La Bisbal, as well as most of the services. On the other hand, the restaurant and accommodation sector is spread out all over the area.

The business and industrial activity is mainly located along the stretch of the C-66 running through Corçà, La Bisbal and Forallac. Eight industrial estates house some 100 companies employing approximately one thousand persons. The industrial sector includes ceramics, metalwork, and automatic doors; the service sector is represented by logistics and distribution companies, together with a large range of smaller businesses.

Equilibrium on a human scale