At the beginning of June, the long-awaited announcement came that the Umeå Region of Ideas 2030 will be allowed to form a leader area!
During 2021-2022, the non-profit association Idériket Umeåregionen 2030 (formerly URnära), together with the Umeå region's municipalities and other partners in the non-profit, private and public sectors, has worked on an application to the Swedish Board of Agriculture to form a leader area. Now it is finally clear that the application has been approved and that the Umeå region, as one of 40 areas in Sweden, will have the opportunity to form a leader area for the EU program period 2023-2027. For this, the area will be allocated a budget of over 37 million SEK. Money that associations, organizations and companies will be able to apply for for local development projects.
Future projects will contribute to the development strategy
The Umeå Region 2030 Kingdom of Ideas can start its Leader activities in January 2023 at the earliest. Only then will it be possible for idea carriers to apply for money from the Leader area. The projects that are granted money will contribute to the Umeå Region Kingdom of Ideas' local development strategy, which shows what needs and opportunities exist in the Umeå Region's rural areas. The strategy is based on four target and action areas that are about making the area's rural areas even more attractive for residents and businesses, strengthening the influence of civil society and reducing the area's negative impact on the environment and climate.
This is happening now
During the summer and autumn of 2022, a lot of preparatory work will be done for the start of the Leader area. Among other things, an operations office will be established and staff will be hired. On our website you can stay updated about the Leader work and also read the local development strategy.
Do you have ideas for local development in the rural areas of the Umeå region?
Then you can take advantage of our local development strategy now to check whether the ideas are in line with the strategy's goals and areas of focus.