The four communities of Arnsberg, Sundern, Balve and Neuenrade, ranging in size between 70.000 and 8.000 inhabitants, joined forces to create their own rural development programme. Together with Henrik Schultz and Ursula Stein, the task force set out to create a cutting-edge, concentrated set of specific and effective measures. Key stakeholders, citizens and politicians have all had the opportunity to join the process. In early summer 2015, the programme has been elected to receive important funding from EU resources. Now, the stakeholders swing into action.