In the presence of several local and regional elected officials, including Alain Iriart, President of the Communauté Pays Basque, and Jean-Jacques Lasserre, President of the Departmental Council of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, the Olha co-working space opened its doors. This 700 m² economic facility, supported by the Communauté Pays Basque and managed by the AIBA association, was designed to address the revitalization challenges of a mountainous territory.
The space already hosts six companies and structures and is ready to accommodate up to 30 project leaders. It offers 20 co-working spots, 8 private offices, meeting rooms, high-speed internet services with fiber optics, and shared spaces. Access is available 24/7, with flexible plans and attractive rates for entrepreneurs, remote workers, freelancers, and associations.
The co-working space also houses the Maison du Kintoa, an area dedicated to promoting local products from the valley, managed by the AOP Kintoa Syndicate. This project, supported by the Communauté Pays Basque and European funds, highlights the region's agricultural richness.
Olha aims to be an open and adaptable venue, suitable for organizing workshops, training sessions, digital mediation, social and cultural activities, as well as cross-border events. A space is also dedicated to personal services, with a manual therapist having recently set up on-site.
The project was designed with environmental respect in mind, including the construction of a new, secure building and the completion of bank reinforcement and wastewater treatment plant works in Banca, confirming a commitment to sustainable development.
The total project budget amounts to €3,550,000 excluding tax, funded by the Communauté Pays Basque, the Department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, Europe (FEDER), and the State (DSIL).
