Pilot project in Gràcia to boost commerce and to promote associations

A pilot project is being launched in Gràcia, which aims to promote and strengthen connections in commerce around the district, as well as aiming to improve commercial dynamism by relating commerce with the day to day activities that characterise the organisations and institutions of Gràcia. With a community vision. The initiative is promoted by the district of Gràcia and the Department of Commerce.

As of a few days ago, the members of the “Teixint connexions,  (Weaving Connections)” cooperative, responsible for putting the project into practice, have begun to hold meetings with different merchant associations, to inform them of the new steps being taken, and of the future goals and benefits sought by the new initiative.

The district expects that over the next four months it will be possible to start up some initial actions, especially from the month of September, and others will be established until the end of the year. Beyond the initial results, the overall challenge is to work to create the foundations of a new model for relations between commerce and community life in Gràcia, as set up by the district.

Creating links with other Gràcia organisations

In fact, the main objective, which is to increase the number of associated businesses, is to establish a link with other organisations. In Gràcia there are currently 24 associations representing business, with a 30% level of establishment associationism, in a district in which the associative fabric, in general, traditionally has very strong dynamism.

The idea of boosting commerce with a community vision is a response to the desire to make the most of the wealth of the associative life of all of Gràcia, not only for mutual benefit, but also to undertake new dynamization activities that go beyond the traditional, such as the usual promotions. It is about visualising the role of commerce in the life of the neighbourhood, as set out by Teixint Connexions.

The members of the “Teixint Connexions” cooperative have previously taken part in other community experiences in Gràcia, for example, in the world of education. With their knowledge of the area, they plan to establish a network that unites commerce with the other organisations and activities being organised around the district, from educational to cultural or sporting activities, for example.

The work of making contact with commercial associations that is being carried out at the moment also coincides with a previous phase of the initiative, in which a diagnosis of the situation is made as a starting point, as well as an analysis of the environment, that will be used to provide a "toolbox", as defined by the district, that can make the most of commerce.