Entering into submission of applications in THE LEARN project competition

For the third consecutive year, the establishment of “Rural Economic Development in Rēzekne District” (LEARN) is implementing a project competition aimed at promoting business development and taking care to reduce unemployment in the territory of Rezekne District. To date (2015 and 2016), 24 entrepreneurs have been awarded the funding. Among these, 9 beneficiaries, attracting support from the LEARN Foundation, started their business and 15 developed an existing business.
In the framework of the 2017 competition, a grant of eur 25 000.00 (maximum grant per project 3000.00 euro) is planned to be granted to existing and potential entrepreneurs.
16 applications have been received in the KNOWLEDGE LEARN project competition. The most represented is the tourism sector (4), followed by catering services (3), design services (2), one application has been submitted in metalworking, crafts, paper processing, food production, sports, veterinary medicine and social services. Three of the applicants intend to obtain the status of a social enterprise in the course of their business.
From a territorial point of view, the most active project applicants have been from Dricānu (3) and Ozolaines (3) parish, from Gaigalavas, Nagļu and Shergana parish submitted by 2 projects, while, with one project application, the existing and potential entrepreneurs from Audriņu, Čornajas, Lūznavas and Vērēmu parish have started. The total amount of funding applied for (excluding co-financing of aid applicants) is eur 43 465.40.
A special trend that has been seen in several project applications this year is: Zero Waste promotion of philosophy or non-waste production processes. In particular, a number of aid applicants stress the idea that business must act responsibly to nature and, not only by providing their own service or by providing production, but also calling on existing and potential customers to rethink their consumption structure and to choose a “cleaner environment — cleaner mind”.
Planned projects are expected to be assessed by the end of January 2018.
Establishment of a foundation for the development of the rural economy in Rezekne municipality
senior consultant Dina Butler