Translated automatically by AI from the Italian original.
PALERMO – A concrete turning point has arrived for the book and publishing sector in the Region of Sicily. With the approval of the implementing decree in the Budget Committee at the Sicilian Regional Assembly, the distribution of financial support for book production on the island officially begins, with a total allocation of €1 million set aside in last year’s Budget Act.
The news was announced by Marianna Caronia, member of the Sicilian Regional Assembly for Noi Moderati, who expressed deep satisfaction at the final green light for the measure.
Wider pool of beneficiaries: focus on micro-businesses and Sicilian heritage
One of the central innovations in the measure is the redefinition of eligibility criteria to include smaller publishing houses operating in the region:
“Thanks to the amendments I proposed and which were accepted by the other members, the pool of beneficiaries now also includes businesses that reprint texts in runs of up to 200 copies. The texts must be publications closely connected to Sicily’s cultural, artistic, linguistic, social or identity heritage.”
— Marianna Caronia, member of the Sicilian Regional Assembly (Noi Moderati)
An innovative model against educational poverty and for critical thinking
The parliamentarian highlighted the innovative scope of the measure within the Italian legislative landscape, stressing its strategic value for the younger generation:
“This is a highly innovative measure, one of the very few examples at national level of direct grants to publishers, providing targeted support to small and micro-businesses that produce culture. These are entities in great need of support so that Sicily can climb out of the bottom places in the national league table for the number of readers. My aim was also to encourage the younger generation to develop a critical and engaged approach to our history.”
— Marianna Caronia, member of the Sicilian Regional Assembly (Noi Moderati)
