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Zumarraga Town Hall

Coat of arms of Zumarraga Town Hall
Zumarraga.net

Culture [Urola Garaia]

Gipuzkoa is a province marked by the course of six main rivers: the Bidasoa, Oiartzun, Urumea, Oria, Urola and Deba, which produce as many corridors where most of the inhabitants live. This complex geography has turned each valley into a miniature world. So in an area of barely 2,000 km2 the ten areas of Gipuzkoa give us ten unique ways of getting to know this tiny province.

The area known as the “UROLA GARAIA-ALTO UROLA” (Upper Urola) crossed by the River Urola along its first stretch does not stand out because of its size. It stands out because of the importance exerted by one of the most traditional of Basque industrial activities: the iron and steel industry in this “Valley of Iron”. With its southern flank closed off by the Aizkorri mountain ridge, it has three main towns –Zumaraga, Legazpi and Urretxu– and other smaller urban enclaves, like Ezkio-Itsaso. Despite being an urban, industrial area it has preserved a number of rural neighbourhoods.

The four municipalities in the area are linked together into an Association of Services (Mancomunidad de Servicios) which works in the following main spheres

Occupational Training:This is conducted through the Employment Initiation Centre (“Centre de Iniciación Profesional”) which gives free courses to young people between the ages of 16 and 19 who have dropped out mainstream education. The course specialises in composite materials, building maintenance and welding. Through contracts signed with the INEM (Spanish State Employment Office) and the Department of Employment of the Government of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country the students can take their chosen specialization further. As a centre that collaborates with the INEM, courses for people out of work are also organised to help them find jobs.

Consumer Information Office: Located in Iparragirre street in Urretxu, tel. 943 724279. It provides information, legal assistance and guidance for consumers and users on matters relating to consumption, banking, insurance… It handles complaints filed with the aim of preventing matters being taken to court.

Fire Fighting Service: There is an area fire station located in the town of Legazpi whose members are volunteers. The building of a new fire station made up of professional and volunteer fire fighters is currently being planned by the Provincial Government.

Local Television:A local television network is being set up and very shortly will be commencing test transmissions for Urretxu and Zumarraga.

Likewise, a company, 80% of which is funded both privately and publicly, has been set up by the four municipalities under the name of the UROLA GARAIKO GARAPENERAKO AGENTZIA, S.A. (UGGASA); the remaining 20% of the capital share comes from four companies established in the area: Kutxa, Caja Laboral Popular, Esteban Orbegozo, S. A. and the Corporation Patricio Echeverria, S.A. Its social objective is to contribute towards the socio-economic development of the area and the improvement in the quality of life of its inhabitants. It provides information services for companies within the Association of Town Councils in fields, like training, consultancy, diagnosis, etc., and services within the area of employment, like the organising of business management courses for new entrepreneurs and employment and training programmes for the long-term unemployed.

Urola Garaia Association of Town Councils

Offices
Plaza de Euskadi, nº 5-2º Dcha.
20700 - Zumarraga (Gipuzkoa)
Telephone
943725831
Fax
943725832
Email
urolagaraia@udal.gipuzkoa.net

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