The LAG(Local Action Group) Homoród-Küküllő LEADER Association was established in 2016 with 39 members. Bringing together 15 local administrative units, 20 civil society organizations, and 4 businesses, the association was founded with the primary objective of implementing its Local Development Strategy through the LEADER Programme of the National Rural Development Programme 2014–2020.
Nearly 100% of the available funding was contracted through calls for proposals launched under the strategy, resulting in 69 successful projects and almost EUR 2.5 million in grant funding. The supported projects also leveraged more than EUR 2 million in additional investments, bringing the total value of investments implemented within the Homoród-Küküllő LEADER area to nearly EUR 5 million.
Alongside the implementation of the Local Development Strategy, the association participated as a partner in an Erasmus+ project, through which it became familiar with the Social Hackathon Methodology and gained practical experience in its application. As part of the project activities, three staff members took part in a study visit to Estonia. The methodology was subsequently put into practice through the Rural Development Marathon, an event successfully organized twice by the association.
In 2023, the association successfully secured funding for the development of a new Local Development Strategy. In 2024, the strategy received official approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for implementation. The new programming area was expanded to include two small towns and now encompasses 17 administrative units, covering a population of 48,646 inhabitants and a territory of 1,335 square kilometres.
The financial allocation available under the current Local Development Strategy is provided through two separate funding instruments:
- European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD): EUR 1,782,809
- European Social Fund Plus (ESF+): EUR 865,430
During the strategy development process, the protection and revitalisation of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage emerged as a key priority for local communities. Consequently, all intervention areas included in the strategy contribute to preserving and renewing local cultural heritage, while three dedicated interventions are exclusively focused on supporting projects related to tangible and intangible heritage.
In 2024, the association successfully secured funding under the European Commission’s Communities for Climate (C4C) programme. Through this initiative, the association collaborates with national and international experts to identify and promote landscape-scale nature-based water retention solutions that enhance climate resilience, strengthen sustainable water management, and support the long-term adaptation of rural communities to climate change.
