EU Funding Program LEADER

The EU funding instrument LEADER aims at sustainable development of rural areas in the district of Freyung-Grafenau. With a budget of €1.82 million, funding is available for innovative projects in the form of a grant covering between 40% and 70% of eligible expenses. Eligible applicants include public institutions, interest groups, associations, companies, and private individuals whose projects align with the local development strategy (LDS) and are not co-financed by other EU funds. Funding is provided primarily for investment and project development costs as well as material expenses, provided that aspects such as innovation, sustainability, and citizen participation are convincingly demonstrated. The maximum funding amount is €250,000 per individual project, with an overrun of up to 50% possible for projects achieving outstanding scores in the selection process. Digital applications are accepted until January 31, 2027.

The selection is carried out according to a transparent set of rules by a citizen-oriented decision-making body (LAG steering committee), in which public and non-public interest groups are equally represented. Project ideas are developed in local working groups and evaluated using a checklist that ensures their contribution to the LDS, the networking of regional actors, and the territorial bottom-up approach. The goal is to promote independent profiling, create synergies between municipalities, associations, companies, and citizens, and strengthen social cohesion. The initiative mobilizes resources for research, innovation, social inclusion, and regional value creation to secure the quality of life in the Bavarian Forest in the long term.