Applications opened on May 22 for a new support scheme that helps local businesses hit by major council projects in Benalmadena. This latest round targets shops and hospitality venues around Santo Domingo, Plaza de España, and nearby streets.

Previous support reached 70 businesses

Local leaders built on an earlier initiative that delivered €350,000 to around 70 traders in Avenida Retamar, Avenida Juan Luis Peralta, and the eleven Gamonal streets. Success in that first phase encouraged expansion into additional areas where work is still going on.

Higher grants reflect longer disruption periods

Businesses affected in this second phase qualify for amounts reaching €9,000 each. Extended construction timelines beyond twelve months justify the increased figures. Mayor Juan Antonio Lara stressed the importance of helping companies manage ongoing costs such as rent, utilities, and staff wages during these problematic periods.

Council strategy balances infrastructure needs

Complex improvement works in long-neglected zones form a key part of the current administration’s plans. Officials introduced this pioneering aid programme to reduce economic pressure on local commerce. Support measures aim to keep shops viable while essential urban upgrades proceed.

Who qualifies for the grants?

Commercial operators, service providers, and restaurants open to the public can apply if registered before the call. Both individuals and companies meet criteria, provided they hold current tax clearances with national authorities and the Benalmadena council.

Single application rule ensures fairness

Authorities accept only one submission per person or company. This approach promotes equitable distribution across eligible premises.

How to submit claims before deadline

Interested parties must file requests by June 22 through the official electronic portal of the Benalmadena Town Hall website. Complete documentation including invoices and expense records remains essential for processing. Applicants should prepare evidence of costs directly linked to the construction period.

This fresh aid package demonstrates continued commitment to protecting local economic activity. Traders facing prolonged work now gain valuable financial breathing space to maintain operations and plan ahead. The initiative reinforces Benalmadena’s approach of combining necessary infrastructure development with practical business assistance.

Visitors can now experience the exhibition Un Lugar en el Tiempo at Torremolinos Town Hall. Running from May 29 to June 26, this collection of oil paintings by Jesús Ortiz Armada invites reflection on how places evolve while remaining preserved in personal memory.

Organisers designed the display with a contemplative atmosphere that encourages viewers to pause and connect with scenes from everyday life and the past. Each canvas captures traces, absences, architecture, and recollections tied to specific locations, all rendered through the distinctive brushwork and palette of the artist.

Practical information for visitors

Access to the exhibition will be completely free. Opening hours run Monday to Friday from 9am to 1.30pm. The official opening takes place on Friday, May, at 7pm, offering an opportunity to meet the artist and view the works on the first evening.

Profile of the Malaga painter

Jesús Ortiz Armada was born in the village of El Burgo, Malaga. He studied education sciences in Malaga and later graduated in labour relations in Granada. His professional path has remained firmly rooted in his native region, where he draws inspiration from both impressionist and realist traditions.

Local competitions have recognised his landscape and bullfighting paintings with several awards over the years. Ortiz Armada created his first oil painting at the age of five and pursued art through private lessons while largely developing his skills as a self-taught artist. He later completed studies in applied arts in Granada.

Distinctive realist approach

The artist focuses primarily on Spanish customs in his subjects and demonstrates strong command of realistic techniques. His previous exhibitions have appeared in Malaga, Albacete, Ronda, Torre del Mar, El Burgo, Casarabonela and Tolox. Private collectors in Spain and abroad now hold many of his pieces.

Ortiz Armada excels at creating convincing light and atmosphere in his figure compositions, paying careful attention to both main elements and background details. His canvases deliver a strong sense of reality through balanced colour and gentle tonal transitions.

This exhibition offers residents and visitors to the Costa del Sol a chance to appreciate the work of one of Malaga province’s dedicated realist painters.

Passengers on the popular coastal bus service between Malaga and Velez-Malaga are going to have to adapt to new ticketing rules following the town’s entry into the Malaga Metropolitan Transport Consortium. Line 260, which serves around 30 stops across three towns with departures every 45 minutes on weekdays, no longer accepts electronic tickets bought through the Alsa app.

Available ways to pay for journeys

Users can travel with the green consortium card, buy paper tickets from authorised sales points, or pay cash directly to the driver. Bank card payments are still unavailable on board. The change took effect on May 1, coinciding with Velez-Malaga’s integration into the public transport body.

Consortium officials confirm the Alsa mobile application stopped offering advance tickets for this route from that date. The bus operator says they are exploring ways to restore convenient advance purchase options that many regular travellers previously enjoyed.

Cheaper fares create major savings

Integration into the consortium has made substantial price reductions for daily commuters. A trip from Velez-Malaga to central Malaga now costs just 95 cents instead of the previous €3.96. Frequent users stand to save over hundreds of euros annually on this journey alone.

Families with multiple children, adults under 30, and kids under 15 gain extra discounts through the green card system.

Wider benefits for local residents

Around 33,000 people in the area can obtain the green card from numerous tobacconists, kiosks, and bookshops. The bus company stresses these economic advantages are the primary gain from the integration process.

Alsa continues working with Malaga Province transport officials to potentially reintroduce digital ticket options in the future. Until then, commuters should plan journeys using the approved payment methods to ensure smooth travel on this key coastal connection.