SUPPORTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL AREAS UNDER THE FRAMEWORK OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

Social and economic growth relies on the presence of prosperous companies. There are many factors that define the level of entrepreneurship, for example opportunities to undertake cooperation and create networks of companies, or the quality of social capital. The key role is played by actions implemented to strengthen the economic and social activity of local communities. This can be facilitated by one of the sub-measures of the EU programme LEADER, namely “Sub-measure 19.2. Implementation of operations within the strategies for community-led local development”. The main aim of this study has been to diagnose and assess this support in rural areas of the Province of Warmia and Mazury. Secondary data were analyzed with both desk research and statistical methods. The funds allocated under the mentioned sub-measure (482 contracts) enabled beneficiaries to start and develop their own companies in rural areas (261 agreements reached approximately PLN 30 million). Some funds were also spent on improving the situation with regard to the identified weaknesses of this region e.g. weak consistency communication, low level of cooperation and social capital. The implementation of operations under Sub-measure 19.2 should result in the alleviation of weaknesses identified for the province and the stimulation of socio-economic development of the voivodship