This is actually old news, but the last few months have been very busy for us, so we are only announcing it now: we have joined the Local Action Group (LAG) for Notranjska region in Slovenia, where we are located.
EU Local Action Groups (LAGs) are known in Slovenia as a LAS (Lokalna akcijska skupina) and are public-private partnerships that give rural communities direct control over European funding. They operate through the EU’s LEADER/CLLD program, and bring together local municipalities, businesses, and non-profits to create a customized development strategy for their specific area. Instead of top-down bureaucracy, local citizens hold the majority of the voting power to decide exactly which community, tourism, and business projects get funded.
LAG/LAS Notranjska region covers municipalities of Cerknica, Bloke, and Loška dolina. This region is focused on its Karst landscape and Natura 2000 habitats. EU funds are allocated to rural development projects that focus on balancing ecological preservation with community growth through sustainable tourism, traditional agricultural heritage, arts and crafts, providing green jobs through innovative business ideas, intergenerational cooperation and social inclusivity.
We are looking forward to contributing to sustainable rural development through our services and project collaborations.