Local action

Fifteen Local Action Groups are now up and running across the region, see the Regional Overview Local Action Group map. They draw their members from local businesses, community organisations and the public sector, and each has been allocated at least £1.8m of RDPE funds over the lifetime of the programme. A total of £33m has been allocated to Local Action overall.

The core objectives of Local Action are:

Addressing economic under performance
Improving provision and access to services as a means of tackling disadvantage
Harnessing wider economic value from sustainable environmental quality
Developing local governance and delivery capacity in rural areas.

Each Local Action Group has worked up its own set of more detailed priorities to fit within these objectives, and has expressed these in a Local Development Strategy. LAGs are now considering applications from projects which will help them to meet their priorities.

Projects approved so far range from innovation in rural enterprise, improved access to the environment, development of co-operatives or social enterprises, business or village resource hubs, co-ordinated and managed community facilities, learning opportunities and access to services, and projects to develop and promote the links between rural tourism and the local economy.

Further details of the Local Action Groups can be found at the South West RDA website.