L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 www.italoamericano.org 10 L'Italo-Americano FRANCESCA BEZZONE H ow many of you are familiar with Molise? Probably not many, to be hon- est. And it's a real pity, because this tiny region at the heart of the Bel Paese has so much beauty to offer and it is, in its own right, a little jewel of art and nature. Nestled as it is between Puglia, Campania, Lazio and Abruzzo — pretty "big names" when it comes to visibility on the tourism radar — it is often neglected by tour operators and not always a first choice for holi- day makers. To be fair, there are many, many reasons to reassess our opinion of Molise. The Apen- nines provide breathtaking, peaceful landscapes; the pre- Roman presence of the Samnites makes it an incredibly interesting spot for those interested in history and archaeology and its position, a true cultural crossroad between the centre and the south of Italy, transforms it in a culturally varied and lively corner of the country, with an amazing cuisine and plenty of traditions to explore. Yes, it is definitely off the beaten track when it comes to mass tourism, but that can be also a plus: tranquillity and the opportu- nity to get in touch with a most authentic, most wholesome ver- sion of Italy is something all Italophiles should long for. In spite of its beauty and its impressive historical, artistic and natural pedigree, Molise is — pass me the expression — a bit of a Cinderella. Vastly ignored by UNESCO and its Heritage list, it is the only region in Italy not to have a single one of its protected sites: a reality that stings, espe- cially considering the potentiality of the area. The increasing number of young people seeking fortune and professional fulfillment in other parts of the country left Molise with just over 300,000 inhabi- tants: less than Florence and only about 40,000 more than Venice. Molise, is also a relatively young region, because it has become independent only in 1963, as it was part of the single region of Abruzzo-Molise with its larger, better known cousin. To say it shortly, things have not been simple for the people in this beautiful corner of Italy, but the regional council has recently decided to intervene. Aiming to repopulate its smallest villages and, at the same time, to offer the opportunity to dynamic entrepre- neurs from everywhere in the world to start their own business with ease, the region has been considering the implementation of a reddito di residenza attiva, or active residency allowance, a stipend to be given monthly, for a period of three years, to whomever is willing to start up an activity in the area. The stipend, worth around 700 euro each month (around 800 USD), for a total of 24,000 euro over a three years period (26,500 USD), wants to be an incentive especially for younger people seeking to start their on career with a certain freedom and with the opportunity to be helped financially by the region. Is there a catch? You decide: applicants must agree to run a business of any type, in any Molisan village with no more than 2000 people, for a period of at least five years. If you think this could reduce your choices, you're making a mistake: of the 136 comuni in Molise, more than 100 have, in fact less than 2000 inhabitants. The natural beauty of the area and the peace and quiet that comes from not being a touristic hot spot makes this a perfect opportunity not only for those who have been thinking to open a new business, but also who have been dreaming to change their lifestyle and embrace a more relaxed and intimate way of life. The project has officially opened this week and, as declared by regional councillor Antonio Tedeschi on Facebook, and reported by The Local, it targets "the many people from Molise who live elsewhere and plan to come back home, but also non- Molisans who'd like a change of lifestyle and to enjoy the tranquil- lity and healthiness of our won- derful region." Applications can be submitted through the Regione Molise web- site for the next 60 days: beside committing to running a business for 5 years in the region, candi- dates are required to take up resi- dency in Molise officially and to get a VAT number. As men- tioned, financial support will be provided for the first three years by the region, with a monthly stipend of 700 euro: it may not be much, it's true, but it is definitely a great help for people trying to start up an activity. Molise's active residency allowance follows a series of other initiatives across Italy, all aimed at repopulating and bring- ing economic stability to rural areas in the country; yet, council- lor Tedeschi's proposal sets itself apart by actively offering eco- nomic support to begin working in the region independently. While the ultimate goal of the initiative is praiseworthy, not every Molisan seems to happy about it. The risk, some say, is to attract scammers, rather than help local residents who have been struggling economically in small villages for decades. The blog Forche Caudine stresses how opening a business in villages where the number of people decreased from 5 or 6 thousand to 600 in about 100 years is not going to solve the region's issues, which run evidently much deeper. Some may argue it is, neverthe- less, a good place to start from. The reddito di residenza attiva seems a potentially helpful instru- ment to attract people to the region, but as any other project of this type, it does have its down- sides, of course. The point made by the people at Forche Caudine is fair, and a stipend of 700 euro a month, in today's day and age, is far from high. But, as with other projects of this type, the only answers, positive or negative, will come with time. Do think of Molise, though, the next time you plan an Italian holiday: it's such a peaceful, unspoiled part of Italy and it deserve far more credit than it's given. A portrait of life in one of Molise's many small villages (Ⓒ: Dreamstime) Getting paid to start a business? Yes, if you do it in Molise LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE

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