Rapla Partnership is a local LEADER action group established on May 9, 2006. Our goal is to develop local life, support the preservation and revitalization of rural areas and villages, promote sustainable development—including the growth of local businesses, services, tourism, employment and enhance the well-being of residents in Raplamaa.
The action group includes four municipalities of Raplamaa: Rapla, Märjamaa, Kohila, and Kehtna (excluding Järvakandi), as well as the Käru area in Türi municipality. As of 2025, the RaplaPartnership has 110 members (local governments, entrepreneurs, non-profit organizations).
The total area of the action group’s territory is 2,974.34 square kilometers, with the largest urban settlement being the town of Rapla. As of January 1, 2025, the population of the region is 33 394.
The region is naturally, economically, culturally and ethnically homogeneous, with no significant differences between local municipalities. It is united by a similar natural environmen — forests, fields, bogs, and marshes — which also forms the foundation for similar economic activities.
The region shares a common cultural and historical heritage and is characterized by national and linguistic homogeneity, with Estonians forming the dominant majority and other ethnic groups being a small minority. The area is intersected by key transport routes, including the Tallinn-Pärnu-Ikla, Tallinn-Türi-Paide-Viljandi and Paide-Rapla-Märjamaa-Haapsalu highways, as well as the Tallinn-Türi-Viljandi railway. In the future, the Rail Baltic high-speed railway from Tallinn will pass through the region. Additionally, the Kuusiku airfield, which serves small and hobby aviation, is located in Rapla County.
The Rapla Partnership has seven support measures, each contributing to rural development. Implementing these measures enhances rural life by strengthening community ties, supporting small businesses, boosting tourism potential and preserving local cultural heritage and environmentally rich residential areas. Additionally, it fosters cooperation with other organizations facing similar challenges at both national and international levels.
