The association “Latvian Rural Forum” for the fourth year is organizing competition “Dižprojekts” for the projects that are financed by LEADER approach. Each local action group (partnership) has chance to nominate project from their territory that stands out among and partnerships are willing and proud to promote it nationally.

Winner is determined by the local action groups and the independent jury – Latvian rural parliament council vote, while a special prize goes to the project which has the largest number of supporters in social networks (draugiem.lv/llf and facebook.com/laukuforums).

For the “Dižprojekts 2013” were nominated 16 candidates from all Latvian regions covering different policy areas – cultural, social and business projects with different co-financing rates and land areas, for example project nominated by partnership “Brasla” in Vidzeme where in three-municipality area project was for tourism infrastructure development 120 km long routes for cycling. On the other hand Abulas rural partnership nominated project where nearly 1,000 books were divided into several clusters that five years every six months will be transported by different Smiltenes municipalities’ towns.

Preserving cultural regions in the regions is included in Talsu un Preiļu partnership: reconstruction old house that was built by fishermen in the littoral population in Upesgriva municipality representing fisherman lifestyle, but in Aglona is built and supplied household, giving opportunity to participate in cooking old Latvian food and breaking bread. Project nominated by Alūksne rural partnership reconstructed cultural heritage – Erman manor houses as concert environment, but Cesis District Rural Partnership – partisan bunker placement, creating information center to promote history of Latvian partisans in Vidzeme.

Project nominated by Daugavpils and Ilūkstes partnership “Kaimiņi” project developed both beginning of new traditions and reliving things were done in the past  – in Dviete parish P. Sukatnieka grapevine breeding, aslo creating place for tourism activities and festivals, for the future is planned also to establish scientific center.

Some projects this year nominated for “Dižprojekts 2013” promoted diversification of free time activities and improvement of the quality and availability of services – sewing workshop is established in Salnava, the development of technical equipment of photo club in Kraslava, hunters’ house and prey construction in Allaži, recreation improvement in Novadnieki parish close to water reservuar, multifunctional sports field installation in the center of Ādaži village, as a result of Sēlijas rural partnership nominated project was a chances to provide daily exercise and Latvian -scale provision of kettlebell lifting competition.

Less common activities were developed by project in Glūdas parish where ostrich shed was set up, also establishing archery training session base “Good Nature” for the local people in Ance parish. Prize nominated by Balvu partnership promoted development of entrepreneurship by making orchards.

“Dižprojekts 2013” award winners will be awarded in the Local Action Group conference in January 2014, however this year the Latvian Rural Forum is grateful to all project developers for significant work in the local area development, and our member organizations. 

Projects applied for the “Dižprojekts 2013” are available online in Latvian Rural Forum homepage: https://old.laukuforums.lv/index.php?sub_show=124