Sicily's Artisan Agency Disburses €690k Aid Amid Calls for More Support

The Ente bilaterale artigianato siciliano (Ebas) reported that it has disbursed more than €690,000 in direct aid to artisans and workers during the first half of 2026. The funds include €286,696.69 for firms (267 applications), €32,924 for employer welfare (59 applications) and €372,745.81 for workers (795 applications), bringing the total contributions for 2025 to roughly €1.5 million. Ebas also highlighted a solid balance sheet with a surplus of over €11,000 and a new safety‑training programme funded with about €900,000, supported by partnerships with the Universities of Palermo and Catania.

A separate Confartigianato Sicilia report noted that Sicily’s regional GDP is expected to grow by 0.6% in 2026, slightly above the national forecast. However, small and micro‑enterprises face tighter credit conditions, with financing for the smallest firms falling 2.4% year‑on‑year in March 2026, while overall firm borrowing rose 4.1%. The cost of borrowing for these companies is about 9.8%, among the highest in Italy. Export volumes from the island’s manufacturing sector dropped 20.6% in the first quarter of 2026, even as regional employment rose 0.9%, driven by gains for women and self‑employed workers.