Details of a new
The regional government is allocating more than 8 million euros to the new Leader grants to promote projects that diversify the rural economy.
The regional government, through the Ministry of Water, Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, will allocate more than €8,125,600 to launch new calls for Leader funding. The aim is to promote projects that diversify the economy of rural areas in the Region of Murcia, foster the creation of new opportunities, and help retain population in inland municipalities.
This funding is part of the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (PEPAC) and has multi-year financing distributed across the years 2027, 2028, and 2029.
The Minister of Water, Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, Joaquín Buendía, emphasized that "this funding represents a firm commitment to the future of rural areas, promoting initiatives that generate employment, diversify economic activity, and improve the quality of life for those who live in our municipalities."
“We want entrepreneurship, investment, and the development of new projects in rural areas to remain an opportunity. For over thirty years, the LEADER program has proven to be an effective tool for creating wealth locally and responding to the real needs of each region,” he added.
With the publication of the calls for proposals by the five Local Action Groups of the Region of Murcia on July 10, the application period is now open for municipalities, businesses, entrepreneurs, associations, and other non-profit organizations to submit projects aimed at boosting the economic and social development of rural municipalities.
The grants will fund initiatives designed to improve services for the population, support entrepreneurship, diversify economic activity, promote rural tourism, and foster equal opportunities, with the goal of generating employment, attracting investment, and helping to retain the population in rural areas.
Buendía emphasized that “the future of rural areas depends on creating opportunities so that those who live in our villages can build their lives there.” In this regard, he emphasized that "this funding supports initiatives originating from within the region itself and offers new opportunities for economic and social growth tailored to the specific needs of each area."
The regional minister added that "Leader has demonstrated that the best ideas for transforming rural areas come from those who best understand their needs. That is why we continue to rely on Local Action Groups as allies to ensure that funds reach those who want to start businesses, invest, or improve services in their municipalities in a direct, efficient, and effective manner."
More than three decades of rural development
The Leader program has established itself as one of the main tools for promoting rural development in the Region of Murcia. For more than three decades, it has supported over 2,000 projects driven by public administrations, businesses, and associations, fostering the creation of nearly 1,000 direct jobs, the consolidation of another 2,300, and the mobilization of over €122 million in investment.
"Behind every Leader project there is a company that grows, a service that improves, or a person who decides to invest in their community. That is the true value of this program and the reason why we continue to strengthen it as a strategic tool for the balanced development of the entire Region," the councilor concluded.