Region Kassel-Land e. V. and the project partner aconium GmbH celebrated the completion of the Local Development Strategy (LES) for the LEADER region of Kassel-Land together with the citizens of the region at a public closing event. It is the starting point for regional development in the coming years and a prerequisite for LEADER funding from the EU and the state of Hesse. The aim is to maintain the economic strength and quality of life of rural regions, strengthen cooperation and ensure the future viability of villages.
aconium supported the region with the creation of the local development strategy. It identifies local needs and formulates a mission statement and development goals for rural regional development as part of LEADER funding in the district of Kassel and the municipalities of Edermünde, Gudensberg and Niedenstein in the Schwalm-Eder district.
With the LES, Region Kassel-Land e.V. is now applying for renewed recognition as a LEADER region for the 2023-2027 funding period from the Hessian Ministry of the Environment.
The result of an intensive participation process
The local development strategy is the result of an intensive, six-month participation process with young people, pupils, citizens and decision-makers from the Kassel-Land region. They were involved via pop-up dialogs, workshops, online surveys and closed meetings in an open and future-oriented format. Together with the people from the Kassel-Land region, a vision for the Kassel-Land region was created – the basis for sustainable development of the region by and for the people in the region.
The final event with the presentation of the LES was the crowning highlight of this participation process. In line with LEADER’s bottom-up approach, the participating citizens were interactively involved in the event and all those involved in the participation formats already carried out were brought together. This provided them with the space for a joint review of the LES creation process and ample opportunity for exchange and networking.
But this conclusion should also be a new beginning: The participants were given an outlook on the coming funding period and the associated goals and projects – and were encouraged to continue to actively participate in LEADER and future projects in the spirit of a long-term regional culture of participation.