Aid

Cyclone Harry and the Niscemi landslide, the 18 million aid to businesses is operational

Plafond allocated in March under the Sicily Fund. The operational phase begins: financing up to 400,000 euro per company

by Nino Amadore

28 April 2026

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Aid up to 400,000 euro
Benefiting businesses affected by the Niscemi landslide
Fundable expenses
Desk applications

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The EUR 18 million package for Sicilian companies damaged by Cyclone Harry and the Niscemi landslide is now operational. The resources, already allocated in March by the Sicilian Region in the Sicily Fund ceiling, now enter the application phase through the measure managed by Irfis FinSicilia.

The intervention marks the transition from the first emergency to reconstruction. After the EUR 12 million already disbursed for the first support measures, the Region is now launching the second phase, designed to enable the companies affected by the calamitous events to restore structures, plants and equipment and return to operation quickly.

Aid up to 400,000 euro

The measure provides for subsidies of up to 100% of eligible investments, with a ceiling of EUR 400,000 per company. The support will be in two instalments: 60% in the form of subsidised interest-free financing and 40% as a non-repayable grant.

"After having already disbursed a total of 12 million euro for the very first support measures for the businesses damaged by the cyclone and the landslide,'' says the President of the Sicilian Region, Renato Schifani, ''three months later, we are starting the second phase, that of restart and reconstruction, with the additional 18 million euro allocated in March by the Region in the Sicily Fund ceiling.

According to Schifani, the aim is to inject resources into the production system to help companies meet the costs of recovery. 'We do not want to leave anyone behind,' he adds, 'while remaining attentive to the correct use of resources.

Beneficiaries also include companies affected by the Niscemi landslide

The measure is aimed at micro, small and medium-sized enterprises operating in Sicily, including those in the smaller islands, that have formally reported the damage suffered to the competent authorities.

Businesses affected by the Niscemi landslide will also be eligible for aid, regardless of their location in the so-called 'red zone'. This choice extends the perimeter of the intervention to the activities affected by the effects of the landslide event, even if they do not fall within the most directly delimited area.

Fundable expenses

The resources can be used for reconstruction and restoration work, building work, renovation, replacement or repair of machinery, and the purchase of furniture and production equipment essential for the resumption of activities.

The loan will have a term of up to 15 years, with an initial grace period of up to three years. Repayment will be in quarterly instalments. The disbursement will be made in stages, so as to follow the actual implementation of the interventions.

Over-the-counter applications

The requirements include the submission of a sworn expert's report, which must certify the extent of the damage and the causal link with the calamitous event. A prospective assessment of the economic and financial sustainability of the beneficiary company is also envisaged.

The measure falls under the 'de minimis' aid scheme and does not provide for any fees to be paid by companies. Applications will be assessed by means of the over-the-counter procedure, in chronological order of submission.

The public notice and the documentation to access the facilities are available on the institutional website of Irfis FinSicilia, in the section dedicated to the Sicily Fund.