The local and regional authorities award recognizes one of them for the simultaneous consideration of economic, social, societal, and environmental components in the management of their community.

Winner 2025, High Bugey Agglomeration (HBA) 65,000 inhabitants in 42 municipalities around the « Plastic Valley » within a radius of about 20 km around the city of Oyonnax. It is both a mountainous territory, but also a very dynamic economic space with 30,000 jobs, particularly in plastics, construction and wood. It should be noted that the unemployment rate is very low (less than 5 per cent) and that the conversion of the territory has been successful after the crises which have affected the bezel industry.

The award recognizes the overall performance of the Haut Bugey agglomeration (01 Ain) in the four criteria of our awards:

Economic performance : The agglomeration has a balanced budget of EUR 70 million, with a low debt and a self-financing capacity of more than EUR 15 million per year. It actively supports economic activities and has concluded a financial pact between its member communes. Labelled « territory of industry », HBA was also selected for the Industrial Rebond scheme, with an envelope of €1.2 million, as part of the France 2030 plan.

Social performance : The agglomeration employs 240 FTEs and has an average absenteeism rate of less than 4%. A significant effort is being made in the area of training, including the establishment of a collective of town hall secretaries, decentralized training and the relocation of meetings in the various town halls of the city.

Social performance: The inhabitants participate actively in the projects. The Community of Communes (CC) is pursuing a policy of social mix and intergenerational cohesion, as well as a policy to prevent the digital divide. On housing, a one-stop shop « Habitat House » A Monitoring Committee on Unworthy Habitat and a Territorial Renovation Pact were established. In terms of mobility, beyond a densified bus network, an allobus has been developed.

Environmental performance : Top Bugey Agglomeration supports the deployment of circular economy projects within the framework of the School project. The community also participates in actions related to recycled and sustainable plastic, notably through the call for projects « Sprint Innovation ». Finally, the agglomeration was designated as pilot territory of the project « Land adapted to the climate of tomorrow » and thus contributes to the associated proactive adaptation approach.

The award was presented to Jean-Marc TOUIN, HBA Economic Development Officer, representing Michel MOURLEVAT, President of the agglomeration.

The agglomeration of Haut Bugey is pursuing a sound policy that attempts to reconcile and not to oppose economic, social, societal and environmental objectives. The Haut Bugey is one of the very rare examples in France of industrial prosperity in rural and mountainous areas.

Production school « the Gateway » was chosen by Haut Bugey Agglomeration as the recipient of the 10,000 € attached to the Global Performance Award for Territorial Communities.