Co-creating Rural Development

Local Action Group Rural Diversity is located in the eastern part of the Savinja River valley and connects the municipalities of Celje, Laško, Štore and Vojnik. It is one of 37 Local Action Groups in Slovenia in the 2014-2020 programming period, bringing together people in the area through a “bottom-up” approach and working for integrated and balanced rural development.

The main task of the LAG is achieving the goals set in the Local Development Strategy LAG 2014–2020 through the Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) instrument, using the funds from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Based on a contractual partnership between representatives from the public, private and business sectors, the LAG promotes sustainable rural development by pooling available human and financial resources and by encouraging local players to implement joint projects that address the needs, challenges and potentials of rural areas.

LAG Rural Diversity Partnership in the 2014-2020 Programming Period

During the 2014-2020 programming period, the local LAG partnership, with the active participation of all rural development promoters, has enabled the implementation of projects that address the development needs and challenges of rural areas, such as the maintenance and creation of new jobs through the promotion of local entrepreneurship, the development of basic services, the preservation of the environment and nature conservation, and the active involvement of young people, women and other vulnerable groups.

In the 2014-2020 programming period, 30 projects were designed and implemented on the basis of the development objectives set out in the Local Development Strategy for the area and attained grants in the amount of EUR 1,676,528.35, of which EUR 1,401,242.64 were earmarked for project implementation. Additionally, the LAG obtained an additional EUR 303,327.99 in grant funding for four cooperation projects with partner LAGs from Slovenia and abroad and beneficiaries in the area.

Additional sports and recreational infrastructure (children’s playgrounds, outdoor fitness facilities, a pump track, acrobatic water jumps, etc.), new tourist products and services in the field of herbal and beekeeping heritage (experiential herb gardens, a beekeeping centre, etc.) have been created in area of the LAG through the implementation of projects.

With the aim of promoting local production and consumption, a new collective brand has been created in the area, named Tasting Laško (Okusiti Laško), and new equipment has been purchased (sales booths, stalls, TIC centre equipment, etc.) for the sale and marketing of the local offer.

Through a series of supported workshops and training sessions, young people and other stakeholders in the area (including vulnerable groups) were encouraged to embark on the entrepreneurial journey and acquire theoretical and practical knowledge in the areas of sustainable agriculture, nature conservation efforts, marketing and local product sales.

More info about the LAG and ideas for cooperation projects: las@raznolikost-podezelja.si