There are a number of facilities aiming to support potential investors who are interested in the territory. These are ‘public’ financial facilities which comprise and contain national and regional laws and structural community funds. It is to be noted, in fact, that 84% of the territory of the province of Massa-Carrara is included in the ob.2 area of the Fondi Strutturali Europei (European Structural Funds) and makes use of the DOCUP ob.2 2000-2006 funds for the Tuscan Region.

More information on financing and the incentives for companies in the territory can be found by contacting: the Province of Massa-Carrara, Sviluppo Italia Toscana (Italy Development Tuscany), the Conzorzio Zona Industriale Apuana (the Apuan Industrial Zone Association), and the Camera di Commercio, Industria, Artigianato e Agricoltura di Massa Carrara (Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Craft and Agriculture of Massa-Carrara).

• A connection is available to Ufficio Europa on line (Europe Office on line), the internet portal on community politics and the European, national and regional opportunities for financing managed by the Province of Massa-Carrara – Ufficio Politiche Comunitarie and the Eurosportello Confesercenti of Florence. The site also publishes a fortnightly Bulletin of competitions laws and facility provisions on the theme of productive activities on a local, regional, national and European level that are of interest to the territory.
• · The Province also supplies an off line archive on the most important national and regional financial laws. The archive is constantly brought up to date and can also be used ‘on demand’: when an input is received by an external user, the research is carried out and the results go to supplement to the archive.

Sviluppa Italia is manager/co-manager of a number of public facility laws of a national nature. It evaluates investment proposals and distributes funds and assistance in connection with a variety of areas of interest. There is an internal data bank of the various measures taken as well as the application forms for the project for which financing is required.

For more information www.bicnet.it

On the ZIA Association web site there is a list of the competitions for admission to financing and to legislative sources with corresponding financial facilities.

For more information www.consorzio.zia.ms.it

On the site of the Camera di Commercio (Chamber of Commerce) you will find a number of links to instruments and facilities.