LEADER 2023 - 2027
OFFALY LOCAL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
"Building a sustainable future for Offaly so that people can live, work and enjoy their life in their community".
WHAT IS LEADER? LEADER is an acronym for Liaisons Entre Actions de Development de l’Économie Rurale (Links between actions for the development of the rural economy). The programme provides support and funding for individuals and rural communities to become involved and take ownership for the development of their own area.
The LEADER Programme - funded by both EU and Irish Governments - is a programme to support communities across Offaly to build on what they have in their local area; overcome social and economic challenges they may face and make the most of the opportunities that may arise.
The programme provides financial assistance (grants), advice and training to support businesses start up, expand or develop new products; communities projects to be planned and carried ou and assist products that help the rural environment (natural, built and cultural) within Offaly to flourish and thrive.
Theme 1: Economic Development and Job Creation
Local Objective 1 Offaly’s Rural Economy - That the economy of Offaly is sufficiently robust – using the County’s innovation, creativity and connections, so that it can respond to emerging enterprise and employment needs and develop future opportunities.
Local Objective 2 Regenerative Tourism - For Offaly to become a leading exemplar in the area of regenerative tourism as one response to the challenges posed by the Just Transition and the County’s efforts towards a climate-neutral economy, and as a key contributor to the development of a vibrant tourism economy that supports rural regeneration
Local Objective 3 Developing Offaly’s Social Economy -That Offaly’s Social Economy (e.g. through cooperatives and social enterprises) can achieve its social and environmental goals, particularly those that involve meeting otherwise unmet local needs, in addition to its economic targets, with a focus on addressing local needs.
Theme 2: Rural Infrastructure and Social Inclusion
Local Objective 4 Building healthy and sustainable communities in Offaly -Use the Smart Villages process, whereby success is based on inclusive and participatory practices and supports, to develop healthy and sustainable communities throughout Offaly.
Local Objective 5 Maximising the Impact of LEADER -Using the range of LEADER supports to animate communities and build their capacity, so as to maximise the impact of the LEADER programme across Offaly and where possible leverage additional supports and investment for these communities.
Local Objective 6 Including those most excluded - To ensure that those are most isolated and / or excluded; those who are been most directly impacted by the peat transition process and those who traditionally have not engaged with the LEADER programme - receive the capacity building and development support to enable their participation in their community.
Local Objective 7 Offaly Youth Population - To stimulate actions that improve access to social, recreational and self-development infrastructure and local employment opportunities so as to incentive Offaly’s youth to remain in their communities or return to Offaly, and make Offaly an attractive place to live, work and play in.
Theme 3: Sustainable Development of the Rural Environment and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
Local Objective 8 Offaly’s Landscape – People and Places -Celebrate Offaly’s landscape, people, and places through strategies that enhance quality of life for local communities, engage a broad range of participation and serve as a stimulus for the sustainable development of our rural environment.
Local Objective 9 Offaly - A Learning Lab -That Offaly would become a learning lab for climate change and mitigation and adaptation, whereby communities share their strategies for adapting to a climate-neutral approach, are supported as equal partners in processes of climate change mitigation and adaption, and, where appropriate, are the leaders, and take ownership, of this process.
For further information contact:
Aileen Duffy
Offaly Local Development Company,
Millennium House,
Main St,
Tullamore,
Co. Offaly
Tel. 057 9322 850/087-9430489
Email: aduffy@offalyldc.ie
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