About LAG "The Heart of Slovenia"
Local action group (LAG) “The Heart of Slovenia” was established on 27 November 2007 with the signing of the constitution of the Consortium Agreement to promote rural development in the area of LAG through appropriations of the 4th axis of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) - LEADER axis.
LAG "The Heart of Slovenia" encompasses the municipalites Dol pri Ljubljani, Kamnik, Litija, Lukovica, Moravče and Šmartno pri Litiji in the Central Slovenia region. The Consortium Agreement was signed by 29 partners - local representatives of municipalities, other public institutions, local societies, and the private sector. LAG membership is open and was increased by another 3 members in 2012:
1. Jelka Babič, Društvo za razvoj podeželja LAZ
2. Brigita Barlič, Društvo podeželskih žena Moravče
3. Jože Benec, KGZS – Zavod Ljubljana
4. Franc Černe, Gozd-Reka, Šmartno pri Litiji
5. Tone Čič, Turistična kmetija Pr' Krač
6. Jože Dernovšek, Društvo za razvoj in varovanje GEOSS
7. Andreja Eržen, Agencija za razvoj turizma in podjetništva v občini Kamnik
8. Janita Eržen, Zavod RS za zaposlovanje
9. Marko Godec, Območna obrtna zbornica Litija
10. Emil Grzinčič, Območna obrtna zbornica Kamnik
11. Mojca Hauptman, zadruga za razvoj podeželja Jarina
12. Ivan Hribar, Terme Snovik
13. Milan Izlakar, Občina Šmartno pri Litiji
14. Andrej Kermavnar, Zavod za gozdove Slovenije
15. Anže Kočar, Avto-moto društvo Lukovica
16. Danica Kolšek, Center za socialno delo Litija
17. Jože Korošec, Turistično društvo Gora
18. Jože Kos, Mizarstvo Kos
19. Matej Kotnik, Občina Lukovica
20. Janez Ocepek, Združenje ekoloških kmetov Zdravo življenje
21. Peter Pirnat, Grad Tuštanj
22. Franci Rokavec, Občina Litija
23. Slavko Rokavec, Turistično razvojno društvo Kampelc
24. Željko Savič, Dolsko, Dol pri Ljubljani
25. Anton Tone Smolnikar, Občina Kamnik
26. Stanislav Smrkol, Gostilna in pizzeria Furman
27. Mojca Tercelj Otorepec, Zavod za varstvo kulturne dediščine – OE Kranj
28. Suzana Zgonec, Društvo za mladinsko dejavnost Mravljišče
29. Primož Zupančič, Občina Dol pri Ljubljani
30. Jože Gorenc, Kulturno društvo Jevnica
31. Alenka Hribar, Turistično društvo Kamn'k
32. Sabina Kraljič, Masada d. o. o.
LAG has the following main bodies: the Assembly as the supreme body of governance, the Council as a decision-making body, the Supervisory Board, the Manager, who is the administrative manager and legal representative of LAG, and the Finance Department of the Governor. The Assembly comprises all members of LAG: the Council has 10 members, the Supervisory Board 3 members, the manager is Development Centre Litija. The Development Council has appointed Željko Savič from Dol pri Ljubljani and Franci Rokavec from Litija as President and Deputy President.
Under the leadership of the manager, LAG prepared and adopted its own development strategy for the period 2007-2015. When implementing development strategy, the key principle we follow is a common development vision of the area which arises from characteristics and needs, as well as opportunities of the area:
»To provide vitality of the countryside within the area of 'The Heart of Slovenia' and its sustainable growth by using innovative approaches in the exploitation of existing potentials«.
The task of LAG is to provide funds for the execution of its local development strategy and to make decisions concermanagement of funds from the LEADER programme for the development of the countryside.
The main priority of LAG is to improve the quality of rural life, which includes six priorities with multiple objectives:
- Increasing added value and quality at growing and processing, as well as marketing of local agricultural products
- Initiating of environment - friendly farming
- Improving employment possibilities in the countryside
- Improving the life quality in the countryside
- Animating and training of country people
- Networking and connecting for innovative iniciatives
LAG The Heart of Slovenia was officially approved by the Slovenian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (MKGP) as operating LAG at the end of July 2008, which was a precondition for the use of funds belonging to the LEADER.
Funds for management, acquiring skills, animation of the area and implementing local development strategies are calculated annually through a special formula of the MKGP, based on LAG's size and population, index of development risk assessment, and local development strategies. We expect around € 1 million of development funds to come into LAG's area by the year 2013.
