The Blaník Local Action Group (LAG) is a voluntary, non-profit association of citizens, non-profit organizations, public institutions, and businesses, established to support the development of the Blaník LAG territory. Currently, the Blaník LAG has 54 members, including municipalities, associations, farmers and other entrepreneurs, and individuals. The LAG is run by the Office team located in the town of Vlašim and governed by the Board as the decision-making body, which is responsible for achieving the goals set by the supreme body, the General Assembly.
Basic information:
The Blaník LAG is located in Czech Republic, in the southern part of the Central Bohemia region, approx. 60 km south east from Prague. It spans over the territory of 44 municipalities, with the overall population of 25,000. Most of the inhabitants live in small villages; there are only nine municipalities with a population over 500.
The area’s landmarks include the mythical hill Blaník, the chateau park Vlašim, and the Želivka water reservoir, surrounded by a protection area with restricted access. The LAG’s territory is crossed by the country’s main highway D1 (E50, E65) which makes it very good accessible.
Our Goals:
- To support and coordinate local rural development in accordance with the community-led strategy
- To provide project consultancy and financing
- To support educational initiatives
- To establish local and international cooperation
- To assist in creating development strategies and plans for the region
Contact us:
In case of more information needed or cooperation proposals please contact the Head of the Office Tomas Kramar (kancelar@masblanik.cz or phone +420 703 355 807) or look for other contacts here.
Downlad here a PDF leaflet about Blanik LAG with best practice examples of supported projects.
What we do in Blaník LAG
As most LAGs, Blaník LAG works closely with local municipalities, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that development projects are effectively targeted and successfully executed. Every 7 years, we outline a Community-led Local Development Strategy (SCLLD) in cooperation with local stake-holders, applicable throughout our territory. When approved by the Ministry of Rural Development of the Czech Republic, the Strategy is implemented through individual projects.
Most of the projects are funded under the respective European Frameworks (see below) and selected for implementation by the LAG through its calls for project proposals. Some projects are also carried out by the Blanik LAG itself.
2014–2020 programming period
LAG Blaník implemented projects funded through the three European funds (EAFRD, ERDF, ESF) and three corresponding programmes:
- Rural Development Programme (RDP)
Almost a hundred projects funded through LAG Blaník in a total amount of 31 million CZK (1,25 million EUR) paid to the successful funding applicants from our territory. The projects included investments in technologies for small local farms, investments in small local non-farming businesses, typically in new utility vehicles and technologies for all sorts of production lines, as well as projects aimed at supporting local communities through funding for schools, associations or municipalities.
- Integrated Regional Operational Programme (IROP)
Out of the proposals the Blaník LAG chose 13 projects for implementation, aimed at the development of local infrastructure. These included investments in roads, schools, or facilities providing social services. The total amount of grants provided from the Programme in the LAG territory was 33,5 million CZK (1,34 million EUR)
- Operational Programme Employment (OP EMPL)
The main focus of the projects funded under the programme was on providing childcare for small children, enabling thus the parents to work, providing services for informal caregivers (for older or disabled family members) and running a broad scale of activities in the local community center. The service providers from LAG Blaník territory received a total of 25 million CZK (approx. 1 million CZK) for their activities. The programme ensured the existence of 4 new childcare centres and one new and the only community center in our territory.
The current 2021–2027 programming period
Through our calls for applications we help grant applicants from our territory to receive funding in 3 EU programmes: Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Integrated Regional Operational Programme (IROP) and Operational Programme Technologies and Application for Competitiveness (OP TAC).
Under the European Social Fund the Blanik LAG is running its own two long-term projects:
The Local Action Planning is a series of follow-up projects coordinated by Blanik LAG since 2023 until 2027 and being carried out in cooperation with all of the primary and kindergarten schools in the LAG’s area.
A project aimed on social inclusion, communities support and help to disadvantaged groups of population like seniors, disabled people or families with small children in an economically difficult situation, is being carried out by Blanik LAG since 2023 until 2028 in close cooperation with social service providing NGOs Charita Vlasim and Diakonie CCE.
Last but not least, Blanik LAG focuses on the support of local farmers, local food market and so called short supply chains. Blanik LAG organizes farmers markets twice a year and runs an online map and database of local food producers and suppliers called Podblanicky kolonial.
What is a „LAG“?
Local Action Groups (LAGs) are key components of the European Union’s LEADER program, which is a cornerstone of the EU’s rural development policy.
The Principles of LEADER:
- Bottom-up approach
- Area-based approach
- Local partnership
- An integrated and multisectoral strategy
- Networking
- Innovation
- Cooperation
LAGs are partnerships between public, private, and civil society stakeholders within a defined rural area. Their primary goal is to foster sustainable rural development through community-led local development (CLLD) strategies. These strategies are designed and implemented by the local communities themselves, ensuring that the specific needs and potential of each area are addressed. LAGs operate under the principle of bottom-up governance, which encourages local ownership and decision-making in the planning and execution of development initiatives.