24 de November de 2016
More than 250 projects will be implemented and the direct creation of more than 200 jobs is expected.
November 24, 2016
The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food (DARP) of the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Government) has published in the Diari Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya (DOGC) the second call for applications for grants for the implementation of the Leader participatory local development program, within the framework of the Rural Development Program (RDP) for Catalonia 2014-2020.
The main objective of this aid is to encourage investments that generate economic activity in rural areas, the creation and maintenance of jobs, primarily for women and young people. The aid is primarily aimed at actions to improve the processing and marketing of agricultural products, the creation and development of micro-enterprises and SMEs, the promotion of tourism activities, and the conservation and enhancement of rural heritage.
The grants allocated to this call total €7,666,666 and are co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). €4,370,000 will be provided by a 2018 DARP budget line, which accounts for 57% of the funding. The remaining €3,296,666 will be provided by the EAFRD, representing 43% of the funding.
The investment projects that will be promoted with this aid are expected to generate an investment of more than €23,000,000 in the rural Leader territories of Catalonia, with the execution of more than 250 projects that will lead to the creation of more than 200 jobs and the consolidation of approximately 1,000 more indirectly.
The grants will be managed in collaboration with the Local Action Groups (LAGs) selected by the Department to implement the LEADER participatory local development program in rural areas of Catalonia. The deadline for submitting applications is January 16, 2017.
For this call, the budget allocation is as follows:
| Leader local action group | Endowment (€) |
|---|---|
| Total DARP + EAFRD | 7,666,666.67 |
| Association for Rural Development of Central Catalonia | 675,275.11 |
| Association for the Comprehensive Development of the Northeastern Area of Catalonia | 668,642.24 |
| Association for the Management of the Leader Ripollès Ges Bisaura Program | 603,169.30 |
| Consorci Leader Rural Development of the Camp | 721,331.08 |
| GAL Consortium Alt Urgell – Cerdanya | 639,066.17 |
| Consortium for the Development of Baix Ebre i Montsià | 583,261.32 |
| Leader of Ponent Association | 763,660.34 |
| Consorci Grup d'Acció Local Noguera - Segrià Nord | 642,269.84 |
| Consortium Leader Western Pyrenees | 928,455.55 |
| Consortium for the Development of Central Catalonia | 776,488.40 |
| Intercomarcal Consortium of Socioeconomic Initiatives | 665,047.32 |
The DARP's General Directorate for Rural Development may modify this breakdown based on final budget availability and the needs of each LAG, within the framework of the total fixed amount established in the 2014-2020 RDP and the corresponding agreements.