Rural Enterprise Expansion Initiative

Project name

Rural Enterprise Expansion Initiative

Project number

CB0600372

Purpose of the project

The objective of the project is to scale-up 20 rural start-up companies in food and beverage manufacturing and related sectors.This will facilitate and support the potential of Central Baltic start-up ecosystems in the rural areas to strengthen the competitiveness and cohesion of the region’s economy.

Project implementation period

01.05.2025.-30.04.2027.

Project budget

The total funding of the project is EUR 1,023,294.00, of which the ERDF is EUR 818,635.18 and the co-financing of the partners is EUR 204,658.82.

Project partners

  • Valmiera Development Agency (Latvia)
  • Latgale Planning Region (Latvia)
  • South Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Finland)
  • Tartu Business Advisory Services (Estonia)

Results

  • The main output will be at least 20 scaled up rural enterprises in food and beverage production from 3 Central Baltic region countries fostering the economic growth of rural economies.The approach the project Rural-UP will take in addressing the common cross-border challenge is to implement a joint scaling-up support programme. To sustain the project results a guideline-based role model for business support organizations will be created.

Main activities of the project

  • Development of Joint Scaling-Up Methodology
    Project experts will co-create a unified methodology for supporting company growth. The program will cover various scaling-up aspects such as securing investments, entering new markets, evolving business models, launching new products/services, and strengthening core teams.
  • Creation of the Implementation Guide
    A practical guide will be developed, including application instructions and standard templates for application forms, roadmaps, and progress reports to be used across all participating countries.
  • Establishment of a Common Expert & Mentor Database
    A shared database of qualified mentors and experts will be created to support companies with guidance in business development, financing, scaling, and operations — tailored to the Latvian, Finnish, and Estonian contexts.
  • Company Selection through Open Call
    An open competition will be launched in all three countries. Communication campaigns and informational seminars will engage local companies and invite them to apply for the program.
  • Scaling-Up Support for Selected Companies
    Each partner will mentor and monitor selected companies from their region, ensuring support aligned with agreed goals and individual roadmaps.
  • Development of Role Model Guidelines
    Based on practical experience and lessons learned during the program, a replicable framework of guidelines will be produced to help other institutions apply similar scaling-up approaches.

Contacts

Project manager Madara Narnicka, email: madara.narnicka@valmierasnovads.lv, T. +371 29519966;
Project expert Justine Skrastina, email: justine.skrastina@valmierasnovads.lv, T +371 26139970.

This activity was supported as part of Rural Up, an Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021-2027 project co-funded by the European Union.

About the project on Interreg Central Baltic website: https://centralbaltic.eu/project/rural-up/

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