The Valuation of Unused Public Buildings in Support of Culture-Led Inner Areas’ Small Villages NRRP Strategies: An Application Model in Southern Italy

The present study introduces an experimental model of Economic Feasibility Project with the aim of enhancing unused public buildings in Sant’Alessio Siculo, Messina (Sicily, Italy). It has been used the SostEc model in order to highlight its effectiveness as an evaluative tool to be used throughout the decision-making process. This contribution is part of a broader research designed to provide decision support tools able to enhancing geographically isolated, peripheral areas at risk of depopulation and marginalization. The preliminary results of the study presented emphasize how the challenge of green and digital transition is today more linked than ever with the local capital and the territory’s real needs. Under the general-and current-conditions of scarce financial resources, the evaluation approach presented subsequently support the public decision makers facing the choices between alternative programs and projects. The first results of the study lead to the identification of strategic areas of intervention, in accordance with the territorial needs expressed and the EGD goals: building capacity to facilitate information, guidance and educational modules on youth green entrepreneurship; supporting local policy makers in defining systemic territorial strategies toward green and digital transitions.