Local Action Group

Local Action Groups (LAGs) are registered associations that encourage residents of rural areas to develop their home district, to increase its vitality and amenities, and to create new jobs and businesses.

LAGs offer residents a channel for influencing their own living conditions and developing rural areas. Individual residents, communities in the area, companies and associations, and the municipalities of the district are equally represented on the Board of the association. All actors and people are welcome to join the activities.

In practice, LAGs develop their own district’s rural areas by creating a development programme, which is implemented by funding development and business projects in accordance with it. In addition, the LAG educates, informs, activates, and assists aid applicants and project implementers in preparing, implementing, and dealing with issues with officials in reference to the projects. The association’s Board and the staff employed by the Group are responsible for the practical activities.

Finland’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry selected 55 Local Action Groups for the programme period 2007–2013 on August 21, 2007. The LAGs develop rural areas in the area of 396 municipalities and obtain funding for their activities from the Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland. 

Four of the Local Action Groups in Finland operate in Lapland: Kyläkulttuuria Tuntureitten Maassa ry, Outokaira Tuottamhan ry, Peräpohjolan kehitys ry, and Pohjoisimman Lapin Leader ry.