Local Action Group (LAG) – „BALCHIK-GENERAL TOSHEVO” is a non-profit legal entity for carrying out socially useful activity, registered under the Non-Profit Legal Entities Act and in accordance with Ordinance No 22 of 14 December 2015 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food for application of sub-measure 19.2. "Implementation of Operations in the context of. Community led local development strategies" of Measure 19 “Community led local development” (CLLD) from the Rural Development Program for 2014-2020 (RDP 2014-2020).
The Association is a form of public-private partnership with mandatory participation of the municipalities of Balchik and General Toshevo, according to the decisions of the Municipal Councils, representatives of the business and the non-governmental sector. The Association is managed by a Management Board, consisting of 7 members and is represented by The Chairman of the Management Board and the Vice Chair. The participation of public authorities, as well as the other sectors, represented in the governing bodies of the LAG, is up to 49% of the voting members. Chairman of the Association is Valentin Dimitrov - Mayor of General Toshevo Municipality.
In connection with the start of the programming period 2014-2020, the Municipality of Balchik applies for the grant provided of sub-measure 19.1 “Aid for preparatory actions” of measure 19 “Community led local development” of the Rural Development Program (RDP) for the period 2014-2020, co-financed by the European Union through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The application was approved and, consequently, a contract was signed to implement the preparatory measure. As a result of implemented activities under the preparatory measure, “LAG BALCHIK-GENERAL TOSHEVO” submitted an Application for approval under sub-measure 19.2 “Implementation of operations within the framework of the CLLD's strategies” of the Rural Development Program 2014-2020. On the basis of OCM 161 with Order № РД 09-987 / 28.12.2017 of the Minister of Agriculture and Food, “LAG BALCHIK-GENERAL TOSHEVO” received approval for the implementation of the Community Led Local Development Strategy (CLLD) for the programming period 2014-2020 and signed on April 20, 2018 an РД 50-35 an agreement for the implementation of the Community Led Local Development Strategy (CLLDS). The Association by virtue of OCM161 and MAF Regulation 22 performs a number of state functions. NPA LAG “BALCHIK-GENERAL TOSHEVO” will operate similar to a local executive agency on the territory of both municipalities, which will accept, approve, assess and monitor projects to CLLDS. In conjunction with the implementation of the approved Community led local development strategy, projects will be funded on the territory of LАG “BALCHIK-GENERAL TOSHEVO” through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development regions and Operational Program “Innovation and Competitiveness” 2014-2020, funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Operational Program “Human Resources Development” 2014-2020, financing by the European Social Fund.
The goals, priorities enshrined in the local development strategy of “LAG BALCHIK-GENERAL TOSHEVO” are to Increase Territorial Competitiveness of the Target Territory with its three priorities:
Priority 1. Increasing the competitiveness of the local economy and the balance in the development of the economic activities;
Priority 2. Raising social and cultural sustainability, reducing the risk of poverty and social exclusion;
Priority 3. Development of the capacity of the target territory. They will be achieved through implementation of measures of RDP, OPIC and OPHRD.
Potential beneficiaries from the territory of the two municipalities can apply with projects to the NPA“LAG BALCHIK-GENERAL-TOSHEVO” under the following measures within the approved financial resources of the Strategy as follows:
| Code of the measure | Name of the measure | Total for the strategy period | |
| lev | % | ||
| Measures funded by the RDP 2014 - 2020 (EAFRD) | 2796836,90 | 43,87% | |
| 4.1 | Investments in agricultural holdings | 391160,00 | 6,13% |
| 4.2 | Investment in processing / marketing of agricultural products | 977915,00 | 15,34% |
| 6.4 | Investment support for non - agricultural activities | 391160,00 | 6,13% |
| 7.2 | Investments in creating, improving or expanding all types of small-scale infrastructure | 488969,50 | 7,67% |
| 7.5 | Investments in public use in recreational infrastructure, tourist infrastructure | 547632,40 | 8,59% |
| Measures that are not part of the RDP 2014 – 2020, but are included in Regulation (EU) № 1305/2013 (financed by the EAFRD) | 136863,10 | 2,15% | |
| 1305/7.8 | Building a Local Identity – Measure, according to Art. 20 of Regulation (EU) 1305/2013 | 136863,10 | 2,15% |
| Measures, financed by the OPHRD (ESF) | 1486408,00 | 23,31% | |
| 19.2/1.1-1 | Access to employment for jobseekers and inactive people, the long-term unemployed and those remote from the labor market through local employment initiatives | 586749,00 | 9,20% |
| 19.2/2.2-2 | Active inclusion with a view to promoting equal opportunities, improving access to social services and better employability | 899659,00 | 14,11% |
| Measures, financed by OPIC (ERDF) | 1955800,00 | 30,67% | |
| Investment Priority 1.1 “Technological Development and Innovation” | 391160,00 | 6,13 | |
| 19.2 - 1 | Support for introduction of innovation in enterprises | 391160,00 | 6,13% |
| Investment Priority 2.1 “Access to finance in support of entrepreneurship” | 586740,00 | 9,20 | |
| 19.2 – 2.1 | Access to finance in support of entrepreneurship | 586740,00 | 9,20% |
| Investment Priority 2.2 “Capacity to grow for SMEs” | 977900,00 | 15,33 | |
| 19.2 – 2.2.1 | Improving production capacity in SMEs | 586740,00 | 9,20% |
| 19.2 – 2.2.2. | Development of Managerial capacity and growth of SMEs | 391160,00 | 6,13% |
| TOTAL FOR PROJECTS TO THE STRATEGY FOR CLLD: | 6375908,00 | 100 % | |