Calabria Craftsmanship Fund stalled for over a year

Trade associations Confartigianato, CNA, and Casartigiani are calling on the Calabria Region for urgent clarification regarding the Craftsmanship Fund, which has been stalled for over a year. The associations highlight two primary issues: businesses that have been waiting over 18 months for previously approved contributions, and those unable to plan new investments due to the lack of a new call for applications.

The fund has been frozen due to the exhaustion of available resources, despite previous assurances from regional leadership regarding its continuity. The associations emphasize that this fund is vital for thousands of micro and small enterprises in Calabria, particularly as these businesses are currently excluded from Special Economic Zone (ZES) incentives. These enterprises require predictable funding to invest in machinery, innovation, digitalization, and energy efficiency to maintain regional employment and economic stability.