Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

Attached are the slides with the data, the two business support measures and a fact sheet on the 5 companies present at the conference who told their story

Milan, February 5 2020 - Milan believes in neighborhood activities and in companies that innovate to support the growth of the city and its suburbs. In eight years, 1.298 companies have been created thanks to the support of the Administration and the 34 million euros invested to develop innovative start-ups, neighborhood businesses and services capable of improving the quality of life and sociability in the neighborhoods not central. Of these, 50% are neighborhood businesses (390) and innovative businesses (263).
 
These are some of the data presented this morning by representatives of the Administration and commented on during the round table together with Marco Barbieri, General Secretary of Confcommercio Milan, Lodi, Monza, Brianza; Stefano Binda, Secretary of CNA Lombardia and Aldo Bonomi, A.a.Ster Consortium and Marco Accornero, General Secretary of the Artisans Union and Enrico Brambilla, General Secretary of APA Confartiginato to evaluate the results and effects obtained from the activity of the Municipality of Milan through the tenders carried out in this years.
 
The Administration, through its measures, in these eight years, has made a total of 34 million euros available to support businesses. Specifically, 13,3 million allocated to the birth of new businesses, 11,2 to support the activities involved in the M4 construction sites, 7,2 for business incubators and accelerators present in the area: Polihub (ICT, Web, High Tech) , Base (creative start ups), FabriQ (Social Innovation) and Milano Luiss Hub For Makers&Student, and 3,2 million to already consolidated companies.
 
In the period 2012-2019, a total of 1.298 companies were supported, in various capacities, by the Administration: 694 companies established before 2014 and 604 established less than 5 years ago. Of these, 42% are active in services, 11% in trade, 7% in tourism, another 7% in manufacturing, 1% in transport, another 1% in construction and 31% in other sectors . They also generated 1.848 jobs. Among these, 263 are innovative start-ups and SMEs, 73% active in software, engineering and architecture services; 7% in trade; 6% in manufacturing 4.0 and the remaining 14% in other sectors and activities for a total of over 655 employees and a production value of approximately 92 million euros. The most widespread legal framework is that of the SRL followed by the SRLS and only 1% are cooperative companies and SPAs.
 
Various neighborhood businesses, from the suburbs to the center, also benefited from the Administration's interventions. Precisely there are 390: in 46% of cases these are ordinary businesses, 33% small entrepreneurs, 16% artisanal businesses, 3% innovative startups, 1% social enterprises and 12% undefined. The sectors in which they are active are 41% trade, followed by 21% tourism, 16% various sectors, 12% business services, 7% manufacturing and 4% undefined. Employment is approximately 1.420 people. Analyzing the shareholder structure, it is interesting to note how female entrepreneurship constitutes an important component: 38% of the members of these entities are women.
 
The total of the 1.298 companies supported has, however, allowed the creation of 8.899 jobs capable of generating a total turnover of over 1.4 billion euros, with an average of 400 thousand euros per company.
 
Confirming the Administration's commitment to innovative businesses and neighborhood shops, two important measures implemented in 2019. The FabriQ IV tender made 350 thousand euros available to finance business projects with a high social impact in suburbs such as Quartoggiaro, Villa Pizzone, Bovisa and Bovisasca, Comasina, Bruzzano, Dergano, Affori and Niguarda. The 8 selected companies, out of over 30 candidates, received their own operational space within FabriQ, the first incubator specifically dedicated to social innovation in the Municipality of Milan, with the possibility of developing an accompaniment and training path as well as receiving a loan of up to 45 thousand euros per business and also meet potential investors.
 
The second tender is Prossima Impresa, specifically aimed at the development of local businesses and neighborhood shops in 28 less central areas such as Adriano, Gratosoglio, Stadera, Greco, Corvetto etc. with at least one location on the street and which involve the recovery of abandoned spaces, the protection of streets sparsely populated by commercial activities as well as the creation of job opportunities and social cohesion for the inhabitants. Approximately 1,5 million euros which financed 38 projects carried out by 24 aspiring entrepreneurs and 14 existing businesses. Everyone was able to count on a contribution of up to a maximum of 50 thousand euros, 50% non-repayable and the other 50% at a subsidized rate. Also in this case, 21 projects out of 38 were promoted or designed by women, demonstrating how female entrepreneurship is increasingly relevant also in the creation of neighborhood activities.