Italian regions allocate billions in grants for agriculture, culture and employment

regional grants agricultural funding cultural industry Italy EU flood aid

The Piedmont regional government has launched a €1.67 million grant programme to enable collective management of chestnut orchards, aiming to boost sustainability, create jobs and preserve mountain landscapes.

In Puglia, authorities are providing €3.2 million for beekeeping development – €3 million from the regional CSR fund and €244 000 from the EU’s OCM Miele – to strengthen apiary capacity and protect pollinators.

The European Commission has approved a €500 million Italian programme to compensate farmers in Emilia‑Romagna who suffered flood and landslide damage in September 2024, covering up to 100 % of restoration costs and operating until September 2028.

The Veneto region has opened a €2 million call for proposals to restore farms in the Verona area damaged by the September 2025 storm, targeting orchards, vineyards, olive groves, nurseries and greenhouses.

Emilia‑Romagna has set aside €283 360 for Live Club venues that present original contemporary music, supporting at least 20 concerts per year and fostering emerging talent.

A separate €2 million fund targets unemployed and job‑seekers in the mountainous and interior zones of Emilia‑Romagna, offering up to €15 000 per permanent hire.

The Bari Administrative Court ruled that a regional €6 million film‑festival fund was allocated arbitrarily, ordering a correction of the scoring system.

Separately, Reggio Emilia’s cultural sector recorded €1.26 billion of added value in 2025 – a 4 % increase – driven by growth in video‑games, architecture and design, with employment reaching 16 549 workers.