Starting in September, Regione Lombardia will launch a new initiative aimed at encouraging the opening of shops in small municipalities. This program is designed to promote the establishment of food-related businesses and essential goods in areas that have been lacking these services for at least six months. The project, titled “New Business – Small Municipalities and Fractions,” offers a non-repayable grant of up to 80% of eligible expenses, with a maximum of 40,000 euros, requiring a minimum initial investment of 3,000 euros. Applications can be submitted through the online platform “Bandi e Servizi” of Regione Lombardia.
The announcement has been met with enthusiasm from industry representatives, as highlighted by Barbara Quaresmini, President of Confesercenti Lombardia Orientale, who emphasized the importance of the initiative in supporting local economic development and social oversight of these areas. Andrea Maggioni, Coordinator of Confesercenti for Lake Garda, pointed out that this new measure could be a vital resource for over 200 municipalities in the province of Brescia, many of which have populations of fewer than 3,000 residents. In particular, the inland areas around Lake Garda could significantly benefit from these initiatives to attract new commercial and artisanal activities, thus contributing to the revitalization of the local economic fabric.
