Covid crisis, 300 thousand euros from the Municipality of Ivrea for companies and associations

Two hundred thousand commercial and artisanal businesses closed during the lockdowns. Among the criteria was the drop in turnover by at least 25% and increased rental costs

IVREA. The Municipality provides € 300,000 in contributions to support the city’s economic activities and cultural and sports associations. The provision was launched last November 30 by the junta led by the mayor Stefano Sertoli on the proposal of the councilor for the budget Elisabetta Piccoli, while the announcement was published yesterday afternoon. 200 thousand euros are allocated to commercial, industrial and artisanal activities; 100 thousand to cultural and sporting realities.

The rationale of the provision is to help those businesses most affected by the health crisis which suffered large losses in turnover during the period of the closures imposed by the two lockdowns. “We wanted to allocate € 300,000 to businesses and associations affected by the crisis – explains Deputy Mayor Piccoli – using a residue of the Covid fund received to cover higher expenses and lower municipal revenues. Important work has been done to ensure that these funds are earmarked for this fundamental objective. We would have liked to finance a project in support of economic development but the nature of the fund provided, in addition to interventions on the budget, the only possibility of disbursement of contributions ».

Applications to participate in the call must be submitted by midnight on 21 December. The contributions will be paid within 60 days. The economic activities admitted to participate must have the main activity falling under one of the Ateco codes subject to restrictions for the Covid emergency in 2020/21 and be in compliance with social security and tax contributions. Among the evaluation criteria there will be a reduction in turnover (at least 25%), expenses incurred for the Covid emergency and an unchanged or increased rent compared to 2019. “For those entities that have debts towards the Municipality and who will win the contributions – adds Piccoli – it will be possible to use the compensation tool ».

As regards sports associations / clubs, it is necessary to be registered in a federation or sports discipline recognized by the Coni. The evaluation criteria will include the number of students enrolled in the courses, the incidence of economic damage resulting from the decline in athletes or minor sponsorships, the reimbursement of registration fees for the 2019/20 and 2020/2021 seasons. For cultural associations, registration in the register of the third sector is required. The award criteria will include the incidence of economic damage, resulting from the economic result of the year 2020 and of the first six months of the year 2021 deriving from a lower number of subscribers or fewer sponsorships received compared to the year of activity 2018 / 2019 or lower takings.

The € 300,000 call is not the first to help businesses. In October, the Municipality went to meet the associations and commercial activities that rent properties from the Municipality with a fund of 50 thousand euros. In addition, discounts for a total of 300 thousand euros have been provided for the Tari.