Arjeplog first stop on the RUS tour

After months of preparation, Region Norrbotten's tour of all the municipalities in the county began. First up was Arjeplog where we met around 20 people for a dialogue about the current situation and the future.

The workshop participants were both private individuals and municipal employees, coming from the Silver Museum and politics. We were curious about how the people of Arjeplog see the place where they live. What is their view of the current situation, strengths, challenges and resources? What are the important issues to work on before 2040?

In the process of developing a new regional development strategy (RUS), we want to take advantage of many voices from broad layers of Norrbotten residents, which was appreciated by Arjeplog municipal councilor Isak Utsi (S).

“Strong bottom-up perspective”

– It's really nice that it's being done in a different way this time, with a strong bottom-up perspective. I think it will result in a very good RUS. It's nice that so many people are here to contribute, he said.

Utsi highlighted that the car testing industry in the town is also part of the green transition, but one that does not receive as much attention.

- They are working on the transition, it's battery and hydrogen cars that will be rolling in five years. We are Europe's center for that type of testing, highly specialized test bed operation that we are proud of but which has been a bit secret over the years.

The first RUS dialogue included both discussions about the current situation, the opportunity to ask questions and workshop exercises about needs for the future. Photo: Gustav Edman.

Discussion of conflicts of interest

During the morning in Arjeplog, participants argued that the so-called green transition is problematic and a complex issue, loaded with conflicts of interest and different views on what can actually be called green.

- Tensions between interests, many want to access the values ​​in Norrbotten and how do we handle that? said one of them.

In Arjeplog in particular, exemplary work has been done locally to resolve conflicts of interest around small game hunting and fishing.

- It is important that RUS provides space for local collaboration, we must think new thoughts about conflicts of interest and find new ways forward, as we have done in Arjeplog, said Malin Brännström from the Silver Museum.

The conversations revealed that there is pride in Arjeplog and the nature here, that it is safe and clean. There is an entrepreneurial spirit, people are problem solvers and take on things that need to be solved. Sparsity is an asset but also problematic, such as long distances and limited supply.

Janus Brandin placed Norrbotten in a European and global context and explained how the RUS is connected to local development. Photo: Sara Stylbäck Vesa

Link between RUS and EU funds

Janus Brandin, Regional Growth Director at Region Norrbotten, gave a current picture of Norrbotten as a hotspot for many of today's most pressing issues: access to raw materials, geopolitical tensions, the climate crisis. He also highlighted the benefits that EU funds have brought to the county, not least in Arjeplog where the tourism industry is growing strongly.

- It has been important for the transition, the money we have channeled out has gone to research and innovation, development in the mining and steel industries. EU money has also contributed to the development of that technology right here. They have pumped money into tourism companies to market our county. Our county has the most visitors in Sweden, largely thanks to EU funds. We give money to companies to develop, expand, invest, said Brandin.

Going forward, EU funds are needed to develop our societies, not just industry and business. Participants were asked to keep them in mind when providing input to the RUS.

- We ask you to reflect on that today. That important areas are included in RUS so that it is included when we are going to collect funds from the EU, said Janus Brandin.

Lotta Lestander from the business company Argentis called for space for local solutions in the new regional development strategy.

- The region must be brave and allow local solutions and support such initiatives. Municipalities are fundamentally different, there must be room for that.

“Everything is possible”

The evening before the RUS dialogue, Region Norrbotten met with a few people who all have experience working with the municipality's young people: Elisabet Angberg, Ellinor Fjellman and Magnus Ranberg. We had a chat about life in Arjeplog: what is easy and what is difficult.

“Here it feels like anything is possible. I probably would never have started my own business if I had stayed in Gothenburg,” said new resident Elisabet Angberg.

She loves the peace of nature, the togetherness and the fact that everything feels easy between people.

Magnus Ranberg made two attempts to move from Arjeplog but came back.

“Living in a city was nothing to me,” he said.

Magnus Ranberg, Ellinor Fjellman, Elisabeth Angberg and Elisabeth's son Theo gave a picture of life in Arjeplog. Photo: Sara Stylbäck Vesa

Tough without high school

Today Magnus works as a youth coordinator at the municipality but also runs a business in the tourism industry. Two years ago the municipality got a recreation center, which has quickly become popular among Arjeplog's young people. Unfortunately, the range of other leisure activities, such as sports or culture, is limited, although there is a lot to do.

Ellinor Fjellman highlighted the calm and security in the municipality, but that Arjeplog had to give up the upper secondary school has been tough and affects the town's faith in the future.

- Moving away from home when you're 15-16 and managing everything yourself is a heavy responsibility to put on someone so young, said Ellinor.

Summary of input from Arjeplog

Text: Sara Stylbäck Vesa