Ten Marina Alta villages gain access to vital funding as Valencia steps up fight against rural depopulation

Ten small towns and villages in the Marina Alta have gained access to regional funding designed to tackle rural depopulation, as the Valencian government significantly expands its support for communities struggling to retain residents.

The ten Marina Alta municipalities receiving funding in 2026 that were not beneficiaries in 2023 are L’Atzúbia, Benigembla, Benimeli, Llíber, Murla, El Ràfol d’Almúnia, Sagra, Sanet i Negrals, Tormos and La Vall de Laguar.

Their inclusion is part of a wider expansion of the Generalitat Valenciana’s Municipal Cooperation Fund against Depopulation, aimed at protecting smaller communities and helping councils maintain essential services.

Millions invested in rural communities

Funding for the scheme has risen considerably in recent years. The Generalitat says its overall allocation increased by 58%, from €11.7 million during the 2021-2023 period to €18.6 million between 2024 and 2026.

The number of municipalities benefiting has also climbed from 172 in 2023 to 222 this year, meaning 50 additional towns and villages are now receiving support. Of those newcomers, 23 are in Alicante province, including the ten in the Marina Alta.

For 2026 alone, the 222 municipalities included in the programme will share a total fund of €6 million.

Why is depopulation a problem?

For expats accustomed to the busy coastal towns of Dénia, Jávea, Calpe and Moraira, it can be easy to forget that some communities just a short drive inland face a very different reality.

Small villages can struggle as younger generations move elsewhere for jobs and education, while ageing populations leave councils trying to maintain services for dwindling numbers of permanent residents.

The latest rules are designed to intervene earlier rather than waiting until population decline becomes severe.

A category introduced in 2025 allows municipalities with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants showing signs of demographic vulnerability to receive 50% of the normal allocation, even if they do not yet meet all the criteria to be considered fully at risk of depopulation.

Helping villages survive and thrive

The 2026 fund divides beneficiaries into three groups. A total of 177 municipalities officially considered at risk of depopulation receive their full allocation, while 27 in the newer intermediate category receive 50%.

Another 18 municipalities are covered by a transitional system introduced this year. This allows towns whose population indicators have improved to continue receiving support temporarily rather than suddenly losing funding.

José Díez, the Generalitat’s second vice-president and regional councillor for the Presidency, said the changes were intended to ensure help reaches more communities and allows authorities to act before population loss becomes irreversible.

For the Marina Alta’s ten newly included municipalities, the funding represents another tool to help maintain public services and protect the character and future of some of the Costa Blanca’s smallest communities.