In many rural areas, fewer jobs, lower incomes, an ageing population, a lack of services, and the emigration of younger generations appear all at once. The challenge is not only that some people find it harder to get work, but also that there is a shortage of locally driven, cooperatively managed economic initiatives. The social and solidarity economy offers an alternative to this: models that do not operate solely on the basis of profit, but build instead on community needs, social impact, cooperation, and local resources. For Central Transdanubia, this is important because the region also contains rural and small-settlement areas where strengthening community initiatives, entrepreneurial skills, and social inclusion represents a meaningful opportunity for development.