Helena

The Prlekija Development Agency (PRA) is a non-profit institution, registered under the Companies Act. The founders of PRA are four Municipalities (Ljutomer, Križevci, Razkrižje and Veržej) and the Chamber of Crafts. Firmly embedded in the local community, PRA is active in the field of local and regional development, rural development, environmental management and tourism. PRA carries out several programs, mainly linked to the different
European funds. PRA is the lead partner in the local partnership Local Action Group Prlekija, providing management within the LEADER/CLLD program, using funds from the European Agriculture and Rural Development Fund and the European Regional Development Fund.
Further, PRA is one of the five partners in the network comprising the Regional Development Agency in the Pomurje region (NUTS 3 level). In this role, PRA is responsible for the environmental aspect of the Regional Development Program, as well as for common development tasks in the public interest at the local and regional levels. PRA is registered as the Regional Development Agency and is continuously involved in the design of regional development programs in the Pomurje region. PRA’s office is situated in the center of the town Ljutomer, in a public building protected as
cultural heritage. Its premises are scattered in four different locations, according to the functions it performs in the field of tourism. PRA is running three tourist information centers, including two shops offering local products, handicraft products and local wines. In the year 2024 eight persons were employed at PRA; the majority of them hold a university degree. PRA was established by the four municipalities and the Chamber of Crafts with the aim to act as a provider of services in the public interest in the field of rural development, tourism, entrepreneurship and the environment. Through more than 25 years of its existence, PRA justified the public’s trust in it, assisting its founders, local inhabitants and organizations while applying for European funds. PRA’s experts gained project management know-how through various projects in different roles, as lead or associate partner.
PRA has been managing the Local Action Group LAG Prlekija since the beginning of the LEADER/CLLD program in Slovenia in the year 2008. Since the beginnings of LAG Prlekija, PRA has assisted in the application process, as well as in the implementation and evaluation phases of more than 150 projects at the local level. In several projects within the LEADER/CLLD program PRA acted as partner:
– E-charging Stations,
– Smart Villages for the Future,
– Tastes of Prlekija,
– Heritage Stories,
– Cycling Chain in the Rural Area,
– What the River Mura Teaches Us,
– Theme Paths of Prlekija,
– Protected areas in Prlekija.