RUS in Boden: "More people need to believe in what is happening here"

Both optimism and frustration characterized the discussion when the RUS tour came to Boden. The participants viewed the possibilities with optimism, but with concern at the lack of commitment from the outside world. “If the EU is not in the game and neither is the Swedish government, then it will look bad for us,” said Beatrice Öhman (S), 2nd Vice-Chair of the Municipal Executive Board.

Many had just returned from their holidays when the Municipality of Boden and the Norrbotten Region held the RUS dialogue at Boden Business Park. The turnout was good and the commitment was clear in the discussions.

In addition to municipal politicians and municipal employees, representatives of rural economic associations, the Havremagasinet art gallery, educational associations, municipal companies, the Norden association and the local Save the Children association participated.

The picture of Norrbotten

The workshop began with a conversation about the image of Norrbotten – what is true and what is not true, what is desirable and what is undesirable.

There was a wide turnout when the RUS tour came to Boden Business Park in mid-August. 

Thomas Fägerman, CEO of Boden Business Park, worries that the outside world doesn't really understand what's happening up here.

– Our own feeling is very optimistic, with a belief in the future that we have never experienced before. But the picture outside is quite diffuse. You see that something is happening, but it is still business as usual. We need more people to believe in what is happening up here, more people to make decisions, he said.

“Most important place in Europe”

Beatrice Öhman, who represented the municipal leadership and gave a picture of the situation in the municipality, sees that there is reason to work on self-image. She is originally from Germany and moved here herself when the municipality was at its worst, after the regiment closures and the hospital move.

– People who haven't been to Boden in 25 years write on social media that this is boring, this is ugly, this is old, there is nothing here, Boden is the worst place ever. It hurts my heart when people who live here agree. I must be the stupidest European who has ever been here because I think Boden is fantastic, the most important place in Europe.

Margit H Dyrander, (S) and the Nordic Association, Maria Kristoffersson, street manager, and Béatrice Öhman, second vice chair (S) of the municipal board, discuss goals on the road to 2040.

Now H2 Green Steel's steel mill is rising into the sky and Boden is struggling to solve the needs for infrastructure, housing and public services.

“The economy is the biggest challenge”

– The economy is the biggest challenge. Can we handle it ourselves? It is not so easy to find the way forward in a challenging economic situation, to say the least.

She highlighted the new composition of the European Parliament as a cloud of concern, and the unity within Norrbotten as a strength. Everyone is talking about the same issues: labor, infrastructure, housing, immigration. Beatrice Öhman emphasizes that these are not issues that municipalities can face alone.

Statistics show that Boden has a balanced housing supply, but according to Thomas Fägerman, this does not give a true picture of the situation in the municipality.

– The banks use Statistics Sweden's statistics and do not grant loans because we have a housing surplus. But we know that it will be eaten up next year and then we would have had to build now. We need help communicating that.

Isa Ponturo and Joe Lindehag, Region Norrbotten, work with Thomas Fägerman, CEO of Boden Business Park, during the workshop. Photo: Sara Stylbäck Vesa

“Don't sit back and be satisfied”

The local business climate is a source of pride for Boden. Ten years ago, the municipality was ranked 270th among the county's municipalities. Now it is ranked 49th, clearly the best in Norrbotten when the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise examined, for example, service delivery, procurement and attitudes towards entrepreneurship.

– We have made this journey so that all municipalities can make this journey. Don't look at Boden and be jealous, look at Boden and see what we are doing. It is a long-term, conscious and strategic investment, it has not been stuck anywhere, says Johan Lund (S), chairman of the Labour Market and Education Committee.

Staffan Eklund, head of department for culture, leisure and youth, highlighted that the challenge now is to maintain the high level.

– Previously, we needed to do quite small things to climb, but now even more is required. We cannot sit back and be satisfied.

Staffan Eklund, Head of Department for Culture, Leisure and Youth, Majlis Seppänen, Save the Children, Annika Lindgren, Head of Administration at the Social Administration Department, Stina Burström, Process Manager for Skills Supply, and Johan Lund, (S), Chairman of the Labour Market and Education Committee.

“Invest in meeting places”

In the final exercise, workshop participants were asked to look ahead and imagine a future where the goals in a certain area had been achieved.

A group discussing a diversified labor market identified a need for physical spaces where businesses, associations, and the public sector could meet. The group saw this as the key to getting more businesses, a more attractive municipality, and increased immigration. They saw an opportunity to get more young people starting businesses and more community-building and co-creative businesses.

– What do we need to do to get there? Reform the region's support system. Create new benchmarks for what is value-creating. The biggest challenge is to dare to leave the old, collaborate in new ways and listen to groups we haven't listened to before, said Thomas Fägerman.

Lena Goldkuhl, LTU and chairwoman (S) of the Community Planning Committee, discusses goals with Matilda Lundström, the Center Party and the Edeforsbygden Economic Association, and Emma Lundqvist, the Community Planning Office.

Lena Goldkuhl, researcher at Luleå University of Technology and chairwoman (S) of the Community Planning Committee, wanted to see community planning that paves the way for life between the buildings, downtown development, a thriving community life and better public health.

– We must create residential environments that create social interaction across borders. With more meeting places, the elderly will also feel better. Then we can feel proud of the place and become ambassadors. But it is important that we have area development plans that look at the whole and that we prioritize these meeting places financially. That we apply for EU funds for measures, not just plans. That we get a regional gathering of forces on housing construction.

“Invest in the culture that already exists”

The need for collaboration between municipalities was raised by several participants. To do it for real, and give and take. Perhaps the best thing would be to point out two or three projects that would generate very good development in the county. Maybe a project in Luleå-Boden could become an engine for the entire county?

One of the exercises during the RUS workshop is about identifying the municipality's strengths, what provides quality of life for those who live there. 

Finally, one of the groups emphasized the importance of investing in culture to strengthen the community and the municipality's attractiveness. But then you need to protect the resources the municipality has.

– We have both enthusiasts and professional cultural practitioners. We need to create new premises to practice culture, but we also need to invest in the culture that actually already exists. Take advantage of what we have!, said Antonia Junthe, cultural developer.

Text and image: Sara Stylbäck Vesa