by Maximiliano Crocamo
The Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government has approved two measures totaling €12.3 million aimed at helping businesses cope with higher fuel and energy costs, including a new round of grants and support for access to credit.
The measures, approved Oct. 2, include about €9.3 million for a second program of nonrepayable grants to partially offset higher fuel expenses incurred in 2026, and €3 million to strengthen credit guarantees for businesses facing greater difficulty obtaining financing.
Sergio Emidio Bini, the regional councilor for productive activities, said the measures followed discussions with business organizations about the continuing impact of energy costs on companies in the region.
The new fuel-cost program expands on an earlier initiative, extending eligibility beyond transportation and logistics to a wider range of businesses. The newly eligible sectors include specialized construction, wholesale fuel distribution, street vending, moving services, roadside assistance, postal and courier activities, mobile food services and catering, film and television production and post-production, private security, cleaning services, driving schools, residential social assistance and funeral services.
The program also covers industrial laundry services and several other activities identified through their Italian ATECO economic classification codes.
For companies that did not apply under the first call, eligible fuel costs will be calculated by comparing spending between March 1 and Sept. 16, 2026, with the corresponding period in 2025. Companies that already applied under the first program will be assessed on costs incurred between June 16 and Sept. 16, 2026.
The size of the grant will vary according to the type of business. Grants for commercial agents and representatives will be capped at €1,000. Taxi and chauffeur services, street vendors and mobile food businesses will be eligible for grants ranging from €1,000 to €3,000.
For micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, the maximum grant will be €30,000, while large companies may receive up to €50,000. Additional fuel costs of less than €1,000 will not qualify.
Applications for the new fuel-cost program will be accepted from Oct. 6 through Nov. 6.
The second measure allocates €3 million to the region’s mutual credit guarantee institutions, known as Confidi. The funding was included in the region’s latest budget adjustment and is intended to make financing more accessible to businesses that have been particularly affected by higher energy costs.
The funds will be distributed through a separate call for proposals to the Confidi system. They will be used to strengthen guarantees and reduce the commissions associated with them. According to the regional government, greater support will be directed toward companies with lower creditworthiness, with the aim of assisting businesses that face greater barriers to obtaining loans.
The credit-support program will focus particularly on sectors considered more exposed to rising energy prices, including construction, transportation, logistics, restaurants and care services.
The two measures represent different approaches to the same pressure on businesses: one provides direct compensation for part of the additional costs already incurred, while the other seeks to improve access to working capital and other forms of financing.
Bini said the regional government intended to continue working with business organizations as economic conditions evolved, describing the current environment as one of continued international uncertainty and volatile prices.
The programs come as businesses across the region continue to face higher operating costs, with energy and fuel expenses affecting sectors differently depending on their dependence on transportation, heating, production or other energy-intensive activities.
