ELFLA LEADER project implemented to ensure safety measures in Jēkabpils Municipality

Jēkabpils Municipality has implemented project No. 20-05-AL24-A019.2201-000002, “Ensuring Safety Measures at Active Recreation and Cultural Events in Jēkabpils Municipality”, supported under Measure 19.2, “Implementation of Operations in Accordance with a Community-led Local Development Strategy”, of the Rural Development Programme for 2014–2020, within the 8th round of the project competition organised by the rural partnership “Sēlija”.

The overall objective of the project is to improve public outdoor spaces and ensure a safe environment for residents and visitors within the territory of Jēkabpils Municipality, the territory of the rural partnership “Sēlija”, Sēlija and Zemgale. The specific objective of the project is to purchase 14 safety barriers for regulating the flow of people at outdoor events within the territory of Jēkabpils Municipality.

The territory of Jēkabpils Municipality is rich in natural assets—parks, natural features and lakes. Recognising that more and more people nowadays value nature and tranquillity, the Jēkabpils Municipality Cultural Administration keeps abreast of current trends and diversifies its range of outdoor cultural events. However, the administration has encountered difficulties in ensuring safety measures, and some of the planned events have not been held. Until now, barriers had not been used to regulate visitor flows at events organised by the municipality; instead, barrier tape was used, which is not an effective way of restricting the movement of people or vehicles. By purchasing safety barriers, this problem will be resolved, the range of outdoor cultural events throughout the municipality will be diversified, and a larger number of visitors will be attracted. The barriers will also be used to ensure compliance with restrictions during the spread of COVID-19.

As a result of the project, the safety of residents and visitors will be ensured to the greatest possible extent during outdoor events in the municipality, thereby increasing the range of outdoor events offered by the municipality.

The total project budget is EUR 1,152.00, of which ELFLA funding amounts to EUR 1,036.80 and the municipality’s co-financing amounts to EUR 115.20.

More information about the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development is available on the Rural Support Service website: http://www.lad.gov.lv/lv/atbalsta-veidi/projekti-un-investicijas/leader/leader-pieejas-istenosana-2014-2020/