Status for decided project funds September 2024

Leader Bergslagen's board has since its inception in spring 2023 allocated over 20 million kronor to 30 larger projects. Of this money, 3.2 million is earmarked for the checks, the smaller activities.

On the page Project we continuously update the list of projects as they receive approval from Leader Bergslagen's board, as well as a start decision from the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

Do you also want your project idea prioritized?

Then the first step is to test your idea to see if it fits in the Leader template. After a project workshop with the secretariat, you apply for funds via the Swedish Board of Agriculture's e-service.

The LAG board then makes decisions on prioritization with the help of basic conditions and selection criteria which are presented on the page forms and info. Remember that cooperation and innovative is crucial for a project to be just that Leader-projects. There are an additional 20 million left to allocate before the end of the year 2027.

Which projects have been prioritized?

Here follows a list of a selection of ideas that have been approved by the board.

Create space for nature, Hällefors. Collaboration between non-profit associations and local entrepreneurs.

Web-based guide training, Ecomuseum Bergslagen. Collaboration through ecomuseums operating in almost all of Leader Bergslagen, several municipalities.

Create the Bäverdalen playground, Skinnskatteberg. Collaboration between non-profit association, land developer and municipality.

Young people on the lake, Smedjebacken. Collaboration between non-profit association and municipality.

Social food in public kitchens, Ljusnarsberg. Collaboration between companies and the municipality.

The engine room as a cultural scene, Ludvika, feasibility study. Collaboration between associations and the municipality.

Oxbron Cultivation Cooperative, Skinnskatteberg. Collaboration between non-profit association and municipality.

Go-karts for everyone, Ludvika. Collaboration between companies, associations and the Dalarna region.

Create an edible garden, Collaboration through workshops being held in all municipalities.

Create the conditions for an annual detective story festival in Nora. Collaboration between companies, the municipality and a new association.

Underground greenhouses, affects Ljusnarsberg, Nora, Lindesberg, Hällefors. Geographical cooperation.

Training in artisanal cider from Swedish apples, Hällefors. Geographical collaboration.

Hoopers and Agility for everyone, Norberg. Collaboration between companies, associations, municipality.

Pennysound Bergslagen, hip hop music studio, Lindesberg. Collaboration with Hällefors, Nora, Ljusnarsberg.

Happy and active dogs and dog owners, Smedjebacken. Collaboration with Ludvika.

KUL, Kottaberget's young leaders, Nora. Collaboration between companies, associations and municipalities.

The Leaf Hut Retreat, Smedjebacken. Collaboration between companies, municipality and local businesses.

Gustaf Erikson's room, Surahammar. Collaboration between association and municipality.

What does it mean that a project has been prioritized?

This means that Leader Bergslagen's board has said YES to financing the project idea. Now awaits processing at the Swedish Board of Agriculture to obtain a formal start decision. Projects that have received YES from the board can, pending their formal decision, start project activities at their own risk. The waiting time from the time one applies for funds until one receives a decision is quite long. Guiding information is available at Swedish Board of Agriculture website on project support for locally led development through the Leader method. Leader's Office is at your service throughout the entire process.

For the checks the waiting time is significantly shorter as it is handled by Leader Bergslagen locally. Within a couple of weeks from the application being submitted, one knows whether the activity is approved or not. The checks are handled by the Executive Committee (VU). See calendar for decision meetings.

How long does it take to get a response from the Swedish Board of Agriculture?

Based on the motto ”keep it simple,” the leader secretariat has managed to reduce the waiting time at the Swedish Board of Agriculture. A complicated project in the ”regular” queue at the Swedish Board of Agriculture takes up to 9 months to process, including the processing time at the local secretariat.

If project applicants do good preparatory work and listen to the board's input along the way - then we currently have a record of five (!) months from the day the applicant pressed "Review and submit" to the day the Swedish Board of Agriculture made its formal decision on approval.

Here is a post about the waiting time.