the project
The policies brought into effect by the city administration to promote and support local hill and mountain areas were developed from 2002 onwards with the PISL project to create commercial infrastructures in the mountain area, completed in 2007; through this project squares and trading areas were recovered in the Ob. 2 areas and Phasing out of the municipal area.
The project also provided an opportunity to undersign an initial protocol between the city administration and associations in this category (Agreement for the formation of an inter-municipal mountain board for trade coordination, October 2003). Alongside this direct action, the city administration took part (2005/2006) in the Equal Taskform project, coordinated by the Province of Pistoia and aiming at small and medium-sized trading and tourism businesses in the mountain areas.
The Project to create, in Pistoia, a system of multifunctional emporia originated as the expression and development of those earlier experiences with the goal of creating a local network through which, according to integrated, intersectorial criteria and processes, it will be possible to respond to the phenomena of progressive decrease in commercial and productive systems. This will represent a first step towards bucking the trend of depopulation and social and community impoverishment in mountain areas.
The project formally began in 2007 with council decision n. 48 of 15th March 2007 through which the city administration defined, as implementation of and coherently with the terms of the regional regulations (L.R. n. 28/2005, Codice Regionale del Commercio, art. 20), the following:
a.the local environments within which it is possible to request recognition of a multifunctional emporium (trading area D);
b.methods, criteria and conditions for the formation and access to the emporia system being created.
The project includes a design partnership involving several public and private entities (Pistoia City Council departments of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, Taxes and Public Relations, the City Boroughs, CAT Confcommercio and CAT Confesercenti Pistoia, local business organisations, the local health authority ASL 3 Pistoia, the Cassa di Risparmio di Pistoia e Pescia bank, Pro Loco Locali, the Teatro Manzoni theatre, the APT local tourist board, the postal service Poste Italiane) some adopting specific administrative and operative roles (Pistoia City Council and City Boroughs, CAT Confesercenti and CAT Confcommercio, local businesses), in two coordinated and closely connected phases.
Phase one aims to check up on local businesses, define a model and plan for creation and development of a network (system access and granting of contributions to businesses through public notice), drafting of a plan of qualifying activities for the Emporia (information, support through stipulation of agreements and service covenant, new commercial products, encouragement of support, study and planning of services), definition of a promotional, informative and marketing programme for the System (creation of a logo, slogan, coordinated graphic line, printed catalogue, website and interactive pages), setting up appropriate monitoring and verification tools for the process.
Phase two consists of the assessment and implementation of the model , consolidation of the actions in favour of businesses taking part and/or wish to be included in the system (support of access projects for existing and/or new businesses with start-up support action), consolidation and implementation of the Emporia System (evaluation and development of the information network,; promotion and information both inside and outside the system, towards businesses, residents and tourists), entrepreneurial training action for the businesses in the System, with specific attention to the area of generation takeover.
The activation process of the project has developed through the tools and mechanisms of concerted action, both between project partners and towards potential users ( local companies and businesses). Many working meetings have taken place with the objective of planning and defining the model with CAT and city boroughs; subsequently the model was presented to businesses in the area concerned (5 meetings, 31 areas involved, 27 participating businesses, 21 expressions of interest collected).
The system will cater for access by businesses through a public notice ; to access the system the businesses must guarantee a minimum number of services, both commercial and of social utility for financial facilities.
For
further information:
www.comune.pistoia.it/emporiincollina
Quality Evaluation Grid for business activity
Regulations for Access to the System of Multifunctional Emporia in the municipal area of Pistoia - Attachment A and A1, A2 and A3
Financial aid may be granted on presentation of a project for the activities and services offered by the business.
“Shops in the Pistoia hillside area”- Public notice for the granting of financial aid, Attachment B and B1 and B2
Some of these objectives and actions are considered of highest quality and priority in phase two:
- Action in favour of businesses
1. financial support for projects presented by businesses already present in the area with financial aid up to a max. of € 5,000;
2. financial support for projects presented for the start-up of new businesses (emporia) up to a max. of € 20,000;
3. support for service action for the Emporia network ( eg. Purchase and delivery service for the network: a single business serving the whole network using the system computer network - opportunities for new employment);
4. business training for owners of Emporia, using programmes and activities covered in the PIC ULISSE (Integrated sectorial project for the Province of Pistoia, financed with FSE, relating to the sectors Trade and Tourism).
- Action for consolidation of the System
1. support for services of particular social interest: postal service, pharmaceutical service, tourist information;
2. consolidation of information network between businesses and accessibility of users ( residents and tourists) for request of services: eg. home delivery of shopping, booking shopping with use of email and through access to the emporium home-page, promotion of the business’ activities, events and local exhibitions;
3. development and consolidation of promotional and informative actions both between businesses and between businesses and residents with production of the following tools: printed and web catalogue of businesses and services, calendar of events promoted in various places, information campaign for residents, monthly Newsletter for residents, cyclical presentation of system in national magazines.
LOCALIZATION OF THE PROJECT
The projects will develop in a clearly defined sector of the municipal area, with respect to the regional regulations: Commercial area D.
All the commercial businesses present in the commercial area may access the Multifunctional Emporia system of Pistoia in the project “Shops in the hillside area” : www.emporiincollina.it
RESIDENTIAL CENTRES IN AREA "D"
( divided by Borough)
BOROUGH N. 1
Arcigliano
Ponte alle Tavole
San Biagio in Cascheri
Torbecchia
BOROUGH N. 2
Acquerino
Baggio
Villa di Baggio Germinaia
Castel di Iano Corsini
Iano
Bussotto Postino
Lupicciano Santomoro
Cignano Ponzano
Le pozze
BOROUGH N. 3
Pracchia Castello di Cireglio
Orsigna Villa di Cireglio
Casa Sandrella Cireglio
Case Sposi Lizzanello
Pontepetri Pupigliana
Spedaletto Campiglio
Collina Vecchia Borghetto
San Mommè Borghetto
Stazione di San Mommè Statigliana
Case Marconi Casetta
Cassarese San Felice
Le Piastre Sarripoli
Piazza Gello
Le Grazie Piteccio
Signorino Villa di Piteccio
Termine Valdibrana
Fabbiana La Cugna
44° parallelo Corbezzi
Burgianico Torre di Catilina
At the current time of activation for the project, Emporia have been set up in:
Croce a Uzzo (44° Parallelo via Bolognese 13),
Piteccio (Bar Blue Moon p.za Vittorio Veneto 4 ),
Casa Marconi (La Spiga via Piastre e Prunetta 107 ),
Sammommé (Il Gufo, via Valdi e Sammommè 124 - Arcobaleno, via Valdi e Sammommè 37 - Pane e dintorni, via Sammommè 2 ),
Villa di Piteccio (Alimentari Bar Panconi - via Villa di Piteccio 42 ),
Le Piastre(Bar Margherita, via Modenese 665 ),
Le Grazie ( alimentari Emporio Brunetti Leano, via Pitornecca 1)
