LEADER Rethymno: first call for private investments, 65% to 80% grant

The Local Action Group AKOMM-Psiloritis S.A. has published the first call for private-sector projects under the LEADER Local Programme of Rethymno (ref. no. 213/26.10.2026, OPSKE code ΚΑΠ-Π3-77-4.1_EL_046_ΙΔ_2026_1). It funds investments anywhere in the Regional Unit of Rethymno outside the Rethymno town plan area, covering 65% to 80% of eligible costs. Applications are submitted electronically on OPSKE from 29.10.2026 (13:00) to 28.01.2027 (15:00).

Actions and budget

Sub-intervention	Aid rate	Max. cost	Public expenditure
1.1 Processing with an agricultural end product	65%	€400,000	€590,000
1.2 Processing with a non-agricultural end product	65%	€300,000	€100,000
1.4 Small manufacturing, crafts, products beyond first-stage processing	65%	€300,000	€130,000
1.5 Tourism: accommodation, food service, alternative tourism	65%	€300,000	€580,000
1.6 Services: childcare, care, health, education	65%	€300,000	€75,000
1.7 Energy and water saving, circular economy	80%	€300,000	€226,000
Total			€1,701,000

For intangible operations (training, studies, certification) the maximum cost is €20,000. No minimum budget is set.

New accommodation may be established only in mountain areas and with a building permit, in the 3 to 5 star or key category. This restriction does not apply to camping sites or to modernisation and extension. Under 1.7, costs not related to savings may not exceed 10% of the budget.

Who can apply

Natural persons, existing or newly established legal entities, and private or local bodies. Businesses must be micro or small enterprises. Sub-interventions 1.2 to 1.7 fall under de minimis, with a ceiling of €300,000 in aid over a rolling three-year period, and agriculture (01) and fishing (03) activity codes (KAD) are not accepted. The call does not include a list of eligible activity codes. The activity code is pulled automatically from AADE and must be registered before submission.

Costs

Land purchase may reach up to 10% of the budget, studies together with promotion up to 12%, and vehicles up to 30%.

Evaluation

Applications are ranked separately within each sub-intervention and funded in order of score until its budget runs out. The minimum score is 30 out of 100. Quite a few points depend on how well the application file is prepared. Indicatively:

• Maturity: up to 9 points, depending on whether permits have already been issued.
• Realistic cost: up to 9 points, when the deviation from the final approved budget is up to 5%.
• Mountain location of the investment: up to 7 points.
• Young person, woman, unemployed person or social cooperative enterprise (KoinSEp): up to 7 points.
• Own funds above 75% of the private contribution: up to 6 points.
• Costs for renewable energy, water and environment, jobs, innovation, listed buildings: fewer points.

Submission and obligations

Applications are submitted only electronically at app.opske.gr. They must be accompanied by the Detailed Proposal Description, the solemn declarations, the viability study in Excel and the supplier quotations. An application that is under revision at the moment of the deadline is considered not submitted.

After approval, the beneficiary may receive an advance payment of up to 50%. A payment claim of at least 15% of the public expenditure must be submitted within 18 months, otherwise the approval is revoked. The investment must remain in operation for 3 years after the final payment. For accommodation and for investments in leased property the period is 5 years.

Contact us to check the eligibility and score of your investment.

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