Four new community cooperatives are born in Tuscany
The Noi-Legacoop Toscana Foundation has decided to support the Tuscan community cooperative system with a contribution of €118,000 through the " Fatti per restare " (Facts to Stay) call for proposals, promoted in collaboration with the Teatro Povero di Monticchiello . The goal is to support the establishment of new community cooperatives and support development projects for existing ones. Among those who participated in the call, nine development projects for already active community cooperatives will be supported (for a total of €98,000), and the creation of four new community cooperatives will be encouraged with a contribution of €5,000 each.
This morning in Monticchiello (Siena), the winning projects ( pictured ) were awarded their prizes. Present at the headquarters of the Teatro Povero community cooperative in Monticchiello were, among others, Irene Mangani , president of the Noi-Legacoop Toscana Foundation, and Fabio Rossi , director of the Teatro Povero cooperative in Monticchiello.
"We want to contribute to the affirmation and development of community cooperatives because it is a sustainable model that promotes values in which we strongly believe, such as the regeneration and shared management of collective assets, active citizen participation, inclusion, and solidarity," said President Mangani. " Thanks to community cooperatives, it is possible to revitalize small villages in marginalized areas, create jobs, build networks, and prevent depopulation, as well as combat the social impoverishment that emerges in some urban areas ."
Here is a summary of the nine development projects of community cooperatives existing in the area.
“ Il Borgo ” in Montelaterone (Arcidosso – Grosseto) intends to reopen a store previously managed by Coop Unione Amiatina in Seggiano, to ensure the availability of essential goods and offer digital services, meeting spaces and mobility support.
The " Compagnia di Marron Bugio " of San Godenzo (Florence) aims to regenerate the Comunello di Casale, a civic and collective asset, to revitalize the village by creating opportunities for sharing and active participation for the population. Cultural, musical, and gastronomic events are planned, as well as the management of a bar/restaurant.
“ Allegria ” by Legri (Calenzano – Florence) offers “La Falegnameria Creativa”, that is, the management of an open and multifunctional space for co-working, study room, workshops, creative and craft activities, and the strengthening of the Community Emporium.
“ Castell'Azzara Municipal Ecosystem ” (Grosseto) intends to create a multifunctional service center in Selvena, to provide services to the population through internet stations, promotion of local food and wine products and tourism promotion.
“ Le vie ” in Grosseto aims to reclaim the space of the Giardini degli Arcieri, beneath the city's historic walls, to make it a community hub and center of cultural production, through a process of civic participation that involves citizens, young people, associations and local entities.
" Il Feudo " operates in the Municipality of Murlo (Siena) and provides local and social services to the residents, including in rural and more isolated areas. It has submitted a proposal to purchase a van to equip the cooperative with a dedicated vehicle for transporting staff, tools, and materials, thus reducing response times to requests from residents.
The " Davide Lazzaretti " community cooperative in Roccalbegna (Grosseto) aims to revive several services for vulnerable groups: cultural and educational initiatives; a summer nursery; and a basic pediatric care service. There are also plans to install an exhibition on the community cooperative's history.
The Vallesanta community cooperative , in Corezzo (a hamlet of Chiusi della Verna, in the province of Arezzo), intends to purchase a professional cooking system and launch two free social services: "Mensa sospesa," to redistribute surplus school canteen food, and "C'è posto per te," a free social transport service for the elderly and vulnerable.
" Parco Vivo " in Vivo d'Orcia (Siena) offers the "BoscoVeglia" project, a nighttime trekking trail that becomes a true itinerant spectacle in the woods. Guides will accompany the group along paths equipped with flashlights. The most beautiful panoramic points will suddenly light up, and through hologram projections, the plants and rocks will take shape.
These are the four new Tuscan community cooperatives.
" Quanti basta " aims to revive a closed meeting place in the historic center of Grosseto: not just a place for food and drinks, but also a hub with local and social significance, including disadvantaged people and promoting a culture of responsible drinking and healthy entertainment. " La Piceria " was born from a participatory process within the community of Celle sul Rigo, a hamlet in the Municipality of San Casciano dei Bagni (Siena). The community, involving associations, businesses, and the local population, identified pici as a potential driver of development for the town and intends to create a restaurant/bar. The Municipality of San Casciano dei Bagni has initiated the development process for a property to be made available for the cooperative project. " Piggeleto " aims to reclaim a neglected public property in Piancastagnaio (Siena), "La Direzione" (formerly the residence of the mine directors, later a hiking refuge and environmental education center), and transform it into a social and cultural hub within the Pigelleto Nature Reserve. Finally, " Lila " plans to create a multipurpose refuge in Mugello, accessible to both the local community and tourists, dedicated to sustainable, local food service and the organization of sociocultural events and authentic experiences, thanks to partnerships with the Italian Alpine Club (CAI), environmental guides, schools, and local producers.
Credit: photo by Noi Foundation – Legacoop Toscana
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