About us
LEADER is a method within the EU, where various actors in rural areas collaborate to develop their local community and strengthen the rural economy. The local tripartite partnership – the non-profit sector (e.g., associations and village councils), the private sector (businesses), and the public sector (usually the municipality) – is the foundation for collaboration. These three sectors have representatives in LEADER's board, called LAG (Local Action Group).
Our area
Mellansjölandet is what we call the land between the large lakes Hjälmaren, Vättern, and Vänern. The area consists of Askersund, Degerfors, Hallsberg, Karlskoga, Kumla, Laxå, Lekeberg, and Örebro municipality. In Örebro and Karlskoga municipalities, the city centers are counted as urban, and therefore, support can only be sought for development projects outside the city centers in those municipalities.
You can apply for LEADER support if you have an idea that you believe can develop your community. Through LEADER, public financial support is combined with your own co-financing, which can consist of your own unpaid work effort or money.
Overall goals for LEADER Mellansjölandet:
- Increased livelihood opportunities in the community
- Create a more attractive living environment in the community
Leader is a non-profit association that your organization can become a member of. Membership costs 100 SEK/year.
Our focus areas
The areas where support can be sought for development projects are called focus areas. For the program period 2023-2027, they are as follows:
Focus area 1. Entrepreneurship and business development
The focus area enables projects where various actors and entrepreneurs collaborate to grow and create employment in the community and become stronger and more competitive. This occurs through initiatives that promote the development of new and existing businesses, new products/services, or skills development. The projects include general promotion and collaboration, not business support.
Focus area 2. Develop the tourism industry
The focus area is about jointly making visible, packaging, and marketing the great opportunities for experiences for tourists that exist around Mellansjölandet. Initiatives to create and market activities that involve diversification and season extension for actors in the tourism industry are also included in the focus area. The projects are generally promotional, not business support.
Focus area 3. Attractive living environment
The focus area is about initiatives to facilitate living and working in a community. A well-functioning association life makes an area vibrant and promotes rural development. Initiatives that offer residents an active leisure time make the area attractive and also serve as meeting places for different target groups, which increases community and social cohesion in the area. The focus area can also include projects that strengthen residents' identity, pride, and sense of belonging to their community or provide. Activities for increased sustainability and for youth are important initiatives.
Focus area 4. Skills development and inclusion
The area includes efforts to strengthen residents who are far from the labor market. The projects focus on capacity development to empower individuals who are at risk of segregation and should be designed based on the individual's needs and circumstances. Education, network building, and stimulating the emergence of social enterprises are examples of efforts.
