Italy's Molise region, a picturesque area in eastern Rome, has announced it will pay more than $ 27,000 to move to one of its 106 villages that are sparsely populated.
Anyone who accepts the offer will receive 700 euros a month (about $ 770) for three years to help new residents settle in the area known for its greenery and olive groves.
However, a person must commit to starting a small business in order to contribute to the local economy.
"I want my region to see a renaissance, to avoid turning its original villages into ghost towns," said Antonio Tedeschi, a member of the regional council.
Young people and couples with children are encouraged to apply for this scheme, which will be officially launched on 16 September.
The new residents will be free to start any business they want to get their financial support, such as opening a small hostel, a restaurant, a bar, a library or a small rural farm, Tedeschi said.
Thousands of people have left the Molise region in recent years, and official statistics state that the number of people living there has fallen by 9,000 since 2014, reducing the population.