RUS in Kalix: "We need to get out into the world" 

Outmigration and low birth rates are worrying Kalix. Could strategic work with ambassadorships be one of the solutions? After all, Kalix has several strengths to build on, the participants in the RUS dialogue there noted. – We are close to the opportunities, said Susanne Andersson, municipal councilor in Kalix (S). 

There was a good turnout when Kalix Folkets Hus opened its doors for a workshop on Norrbotten's new roadmap towards 2040, the regional development strategy (RUS). The day began with a brief discussion about images of Norrbotten, which ones exist, which ones are good, and which ones are accurate and which ones are not. 

– We are nice and honest. We have high-tech operations that drive green transition. We want to be perceived as creative and as an innovative society that takes advantage of the conditions that are given. There is a line of collaboration, we are pulling in the same direction, we have both cities and rural areas, said Åse Classon, business developer at Samforma. 

Jenny Ericsson, Kalix Industrial Park, and Åsa Classon, business developer at Samforma and member of the municipal board for the Social Democrats.

Marianne Strömbäck, social services manager in Kalix municipality, noted that there are plenty of prejudices that are not true. 

– We try to see the positive even if there are things to improve. We are solution-focused, innovative, we want Jante gone. In southern Sweden they think we are quiet, but we are not. There is an attitude that here is empty, but here there is plenty: beautiful nature, archipelago... It is important to see the possibilities! 

"Why does it look like that?"

Several highlighted that Norrbotten is moving forward and has drive, that we have beautiful nature and fantastic development opportunities. But that the images of darkness and cold, macho culture, nothing to do and high unemployment stick. They inhibit development. Inga-Lis Samuelsson, chairwoman of the social committee (C), believes that this is something that we need to dig deeper into. 

– If it is so positive here, why does it look the way it does in Norrbotten? Why do we have the concerns we have? Why doesn't everyone else see this, why don't they experience it, and why don't they come like flies to a piece of sugar? Here there are jobs, activities, the good life in every way and sense, but still it doesn't happen. If we are going to work with development, we need to delve into that question! 

Municipal councilor Susanne Andersson presented the municipality and gave a picture of the current situation, the challenges and the opportunities.

Municipal councilor Susanne Andersson (S), highlighted the municipality's infrastructure as a fantastic resource. 

– We are close to the opportunities. E4, E10, railway, shipping. You can commute quite quickly from Boden to here by train. And then we have Kalix port that we can develop. What is so good is that the railway goes all the way to the port. But we need to strengthen the road network for NATO, and what should be the municipality's responsibility and what should be the state's responsibility? 

“Public transport must be built up”

In other words, it's a pretty good infrastructure. But public transport is lacking. Commuting to work and public transport is an important issue for Tomas Lundberg from the IF Metall union. 

– It doesn't work today. How do we build it up at the municipal level so that more people can settle here? It's about how it affects our quality of life, commuting and public transport to get in and out of the city centre, activities, taking children. We need to create greater opportunities for the entire labour market. 

– But also that we have to change the behavioral pattern because we are used to driving our own cars. We have to find cooperation between different modes of transport, taking the train or bus, but then we have to have parking spaces to get to the bus station and train station, Lundberg continued. 

The participants in the RUS dialogue were asked to discuss, among other things, the images of Norrbotten: what is true, what is not true, what is desirable and what is undesirable?

The housing market picture is complex. While the population is declining and there are plenty of empty houses, there is a shortage of the type of housing that is in demand. The increasingly elderly population wants apartments with elevators and lifestyle migrants want houses without too much need for renovation. 

“Outmigration of women and young people”

There is a great concern about the demography of the municipality. In connection with the workshop, the Norrbotten Region was able to show statistics on the population structure. Since 2020, the proportion of people aged 26-67 has decreased by 7 percent, and the proportion of people aged 68 and older has increased by 50 percent. In all age groups, men are becoming an increasingly large proportion. 

– We have an exodus of mainly women and young people who move to places where they can study. We have a low birth rate, last year 110 children were born, that is very low. It is very important that children are born because otherwise we will soon need to restructure preschools and schools. Because we are losing population, we will have a reduced tax base and government subsidies. 100 lost people are 5 million less in tax revenue, said Susanne Andersson. 

Sanna Wallma, migration pilot and rural developer, Emma Ekholm, social administration, and municipal politician Britt-Inger Nordström (S).

Part of the problem may be the macho culture that several of the participants brought up. 

– We have a macho culture, and from a gender equality perspective we need to work on it deep down in school to break it, said Susanne. 

How can Kalix get more people to find homes in the municipality? One of the discussion groups delved into that question. 

– In 2040 we will have well-functioning networks that promote immigration. We plan to upgrade existing networks. Take advantage of other good examples such as Hej Hemby and Move on up. Create opportunities to test live in the area. And also welcome in a clearer way, we would become more social and open. We need to get out into the world in several ways, said Viktoria Wikström (S), chairwoman of the education committee in Kalix.  

Viktoria Wikström (S), chairwoman of the education committee in Kalix, held a workshop with Marcus Strömbäck Hjärne, LTU.

Marcus Strömbäck Hjärne from Luleå University of Technology was on a similar path. 

– We need immigration from other countries and making everyone feel included in society. It's about simple things like saying hello. Making those who are here feel safe and welcome. 

“Don't underestimate physical meetings”

Rose-Marie Henriksson (S), chairwoman of the community planning committee, thought about new ways to achieve collaboration. One idea was to create opportunities to sit and work in a different place than one's usual, perhaps at a company or at an association. 

– This way we can collaborate naturally. Digitalization is very important, but we should not underestimate the physical meeting. 

Maria Johansson, business developer at the municipality, was part of a group discussing innovation and entrepreneurship. 

– In 2040, the state has seen northern Sweden, we have attracted investors, worked on social networks, the municipality has been the spider in the web and collaborated with the business community. We have promoted immigration and in this way brought life to empty homes and a diversified labor market. It is about daring to be sustainable. Investing time and money in long-term goals. It is about actively creating that everyone looks towards the north. Dare to be a role model! 

Text & image: Sara Stylbäck Vesa