Monchique council has opened its cheque book for the second year running to hand out a €2,500 award for the most promising business idea.
The ‘Monchique Creative and Entrepreneurial’ idea competition will be judged by representatives of the council, the University of Algarve and the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs.
Mayor Rui André said that the initiative that aims to "stimulate the emergence of new business ideas associated with our area."
The first edition "went very well," according to the mayor, and a dozen ideas were analysed with more expected this time around.
Individuals over the age of 18 may apply individually or in groups. One of the conditions for each cunning idea is that the headquarters or principal place of business should be located in the municipality.
The criteria also insist that ideas should be "innovative, feasible and have competitive advantages that can give rise to a new product or service, a new way of selling an existing product or a new spin on an existing product.
The deadline for submissions is June 9, 2017, and these must be delivered to the Monchique Invest office at the council or emailed to vania.serrao@cmmonchique.pt.
One project that has been let down by the council’s inability to make its mind up is the much talked about cable car from the town to the top of the second highest peak, Picota.
Estate agents have been offering the associated land for sale at €2 million, to include planning for the cable car construction, hotel, bars, restaurant and a car park.
The project is said by sales agencies to have the endorsement of Monchique council “which will deliver all the necessary documentation and a building license,” although this is far from certain.
In reality, the project has been sat on since 2014 and, should it be revitalised, a new environmental impact assessment will have to be submitted to the ICNF and the CCDR, according to Eric Castaldo, the frustrated architect behind the project design.
The Casa do Povo convent also was destined to be turned into a cultural centre with exhibition and conference facilities but the keen private investor got fed up waiting and after three years, pulled out despite the council’s professed enthusiasm.
Rui Andre is happy when developing the local medronho industry and campaigning against feldspar mining, both noble endeavours, but when the chance to do something big, important and potentially lucrative comes along, the council smiles and handshakes turn into unwarranted delays and zero communication.
© Eric Castraldo, architect
