Local Initiative Group Tvarditsa – Sliven – The Valley of Peaches covers all settlements of the municipality of Tvarditsa and fourteen settlements of the municipality of Sliven, excluding the city of Sliven within its territorial borders. The LAG is part of the Sliven region. It is located on the southern slopes of the Central Balkan Mountains on a total area of 790.2 km². According to NSI data as of 31.12.2020, the population covered by the LAG is 22,278 inhabitants. Stakeholders from the three sectors have been identified - public, business and non-business. The target groups to which the strategy is addressed are representatives of the local production and processing business, farmers, representatives of the non-profit sector, including community centers, representatives of the local administration, as well as vulnerable groups of the population, including Roma. The development strategy is single-fund and is financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. It includes seven measures, justified by the identified needs of the territory: improving competitiveness in agriculture, the production and processing sector, improving living conditions and public infrastructure, as well as revitalizing the territory and creating smart settlements. Funding is provided for cooperation with other LAGs from the country or other EU member states. The total public contribution provided is BGN 5,867,400, of which BGN 1,466,850 is for management and promotion. Based on Council of Ministers Decree No. 494 of 30.12.2024 complementary funding is provided from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund+ (ESF+) through the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme 2021-2027, the Human Resources Development Programme 2021-2027, the Education Programme 2021-2027 and the Environment Programme 2021-2027. The deadline for implementing the strategy is September 30, 2029.
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