Have you ever dreamed of opening a delicatessen or B&B in an idyllic village in the deep south of Italy – and getting paid for it too? For those who want to take the plunge, it doesn’t have to be a dream. Some villages in the Calabria region pay you to move there and start a business or possibly fill a shortage occupation. These are the conditions.
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The authorities of the Calabria region are planning to offer up to 28,000 euros over a period of up to three years to people who want to move to sleepy villages with barely 2,000 inhabitants in the hopes of reviving population growth after years of rural displacement. These are locations near the sea, or on mountain slopes, or both.
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But of course the enticing sum does not just fall into your lap. In order to receive the money, future residents must commit to starting a (small) business (or filling a bottleneck profession). In addition, applicants must not be more than 40 years old. They must be willing to move to Calabria within 90 days of their successful application.
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In this way, the region hopes to attract proactive young people and millennials who are eager to roll up their sleeves. According to Gianlucca Gallo, a regional councilor, the monthly support for two to three years can be between 800 and 1,000 euros.
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Alternatively, it can also be a one-off financing to support the launch of the commercial activity – be it a restaurant, B&B, shop or farm. “Many villages are showing interest in the project, and if this plan works, more will follow in the coming years,” Gallo told CNN.
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The project is expected to be launched online in the coming weeks. “The aim is to boost the local economy and revitalize small-scale communities,” Gallo added. “We want to match supply and demand on the labor market, so we asked the villages to find out which specific employees they need.”
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With tourism resuming, a visit to the beautiful region this summer could be a great way to experience Calabrian village life, and who knows, turn that dream into reality.
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