by InTrieste
Starting today, Italian employees working at the U.S. Air Force Base in Aviano can apply for interest-free loans to help offset delayed paychecks caused by the ongoing U.S. federal government shutdown.
The initiative, announced on Tuesday by Friuli Venezia Giulia’s Regional Councillors for Economic Development and Labor, Sergio Emidio Bini and Alessia Rosolen, aims to support local workers affected by the halt in federal spending that has temporarily frozen salaries at the base.
Under the agreement between the regional government and the Association of Cooperative Credit Banks, Rural Banks, and Artisans’ Banks of Friuli Venezia Giulia (Zadružne banke), eligible employees will be able to request a zero-interest loan of €3,000. The loans will be available through Banca 360 FVG and BCC Pordenonese e Monsile branches. Applicants must present an ID and a copy of their most recent payslip. Repayments will be due by January 15, 2026, and each request will undergo standard creditworthiness checks as required by banking regulations.
Councillors Bini and Rosolen highlighted that the measure was made possible through swift cooperation between the regional administration and the cooperative banking sector, which acted promptly after discussions held last week with Regional President Massimiliano Fedriga.
“This initiative reflects the strong social awareness and deep local roots of our cooperative credit institutions,” Bini and Rosolen said in a joint statement. “It demonstrates our commitment to addressing people’s real needs with concrete actions.”
The Association of Cooperative Credit Banks of Friuli Venezia Giulia emphasized that the program aligns with its broader mission to support local communities and promote economic resilience. “This initiative reaffirms the importance of collaboration between the Region and the cooperative credit system in pursuing goals of public interest,” the association noted.
The Aviano Air Base, one of the most significant U.S. military installations in Italy, employs hundreds of Italian civilians. Many of them rely on monthly salaries directly tied to the U.S. federal budget, leaving them vulnerable during periods of government shutdown.
Regional officials expressed hope that the measure will provide timely relief to affected families and help maintain economic stability in the surrounding area while federal operations in the United States remain suspended.
