Contribution and tax breaks for over one billion euros granted to 36.397 companies. This is the result of the Urban Free Zones, the tool activated in 50 areas of the country by the Ministry of Economic Development with the support of Invitalia. Through tax relief and decontribution programs aimed at businesses, the ZFU aim to encourage the recovery of areas affected by economic crisis or natural disasters.
The exact value of the subsidies is 1.002.217.965 euros. The greatest benefit was obtained from the Zona Franca Sisma Centro Italia, with 348 million, followed by the ZFU of Sicily (181 million), Sardinia (124 million) and Campania (98 million). The "wall" of one billion euros was exceeded with the 52 million awarded on 28 May to 2.837 companies in Abruzzo, Lazio, Marche and Umbria, affected by the earthquakes of 2016 and 2017.
The last "tranche" of subsidies was granted in just over a month from the closing of the tender (April 20, 2018): an efficiency obtained also thanks to the action of Invitalia, which created the IT platform to automate all the procedures: from online submission of the application, to the granting of concessions. This speed will allow companies to obtain the benefit already for the June tax deadlines.
