Ferreira do Zêzere is investing 1.75 million euros in a “Citizen’s Shop” (Loja do Cidadão)—which is already operational—and a new business incubator in Pias.
“Consolidating these services into a single location makes it easier for citizens to access various public services, reduces the need for travel, and provides a better environment for receiving assistance,” Bruno Gomes, Mayor of Ferreira do Zêzere, told the Lusa news agency.
Government officials will attend both initiatives, located in the municipality of Ferreira do Zêzere (Santarém district). The Minister Assistant for State Reform, Gonçalo Matias, will inaugurate the Citizen’s Shop at 2:30 pm. At the same time, the Secretary of State for Local Administration and Land Use Planning, Silvério Regalado, will participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the “FZ Innovation Hub” at 4:30 pm.
The Citizen’s Shop, which opened to the public this past Monday, represents a total investment of 995,000 euros—comprising 270,000 euros for the acquisition of the former Caixa Geral de Depósitos building, and 725,000 euros for the renovation and equipping of the space—funded through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
Situated on Praça Dias Ferreira, the facility operates from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. It houses the municipality’s “Single Service Desk” (Balcão Único), covering administrative, urban planning, and treasury functions, as well as a “Citizen’s Space” (Espaço Cidadão).
The facility will also host services from the Tax and Customs Authority and the Social Security office, with operating hours set by the respective agencies.
According to Bruno Gomes, this consolidation of services represents a significant investment in administrative modernisation and brings public services closer to the local population. The municipality announced the creation of the “Loja do Cidadão” (Citizen Service eCentre) in February of this year, with an initial investment estimated at around 700,000 euros.
For the FZ Innovation Hub, to be established in the former Pias Primary School, the municipality awarded a fully funded contract worth 755,000 euros, with a 360-day completion period starting when the site is handed over for construction.
The project involves redeveloping the building to house a business incubator, a coworking space, and multifunctional rooms, all designed to support micro-enterprises and new business ideas.
The Mayor clarified that the number of companies that can set up in the space has not yet been determined, as capacity will depend on how the facilities are organised and used.
The FZ Innovation Hub will complement the existing incubator and coworking space at the Central de Camionagem (bus terminal), expanding the municipality’s support for entrepreneurship and creating new conditions for the development of business ventures.
As part of the “Ferreira do Zêzere 2030” Strategic Plan, the municipality unveiled the rehabilitation project in 2024. It launched a public tender in June of this year with a base price of approximately 776,000 euros.
The contract was awarded in August, and the facility will become operational once construction is complete and the space is ready to welcome companies and users.
Through these two investments, the municipality aims to improve public access to services and strengthen the support framework for business activity and the municipality’s economic development.