RUS in Övertorneå: "Must have the opportunity to make a career in sparsely populated areas"

Övertorneå is the municipality that has started measuring the well-being of its residents in order to increase this in the long term. On April 25th, the RUS tour went there. It was a conversation about challenges such as skills supply and an aging population — but also about trust between people and a welcoming culture.

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. That is why we are visiting all the county's municipalities for a dialogue about the challenges, opportunities and needs that exist in each place. In Övertorneå, the participants gathered at Folkets Hus to twist and turn the challenges and opportunities. What does the municipality need on the road to Norrbotten in 2040, and what can we collaborate on?

Business developer Ida Brännström focused on public health in her presentation from the municipality. The goal of the initiative Löget is to increase the perceived well-being in the municipality. Participating associations and companies ask their members and employees every Friday how the week has been. With the push of a button – green, yellow or red – they can show how they are feeling. Over time, the municipality can see how well-being develops.

 – We are a municipality that often wants to do things differently, said Ida Brännström.

Ida Brännström is a business developer at Övertorneå Municipality.

The initiative on Läget has been noticed far beyond Tornedalen, including by the Stockholm municipality of Nacka. The hope is to continue the work and that more municipalities will be able to share experiences and adapt it to their own circumstances.

Övertorneå was described during the workshop as a place where people see each other, take care of each other and feel good. The trust between each other is so great that people hardly lock the doors. The library is available at times when it is not staffed. These are factors that are important when the municipality wants to attract new residents.

"Welcoming"

 – Övertorneå is welcoming, it's easy to get in here, said Viktoria Henriksson, chief of staff at the municipality.

Work on attraction and immigration is ongoing, but Övertorneå is a sparsely populated municipality and with that comes many challenges. These include skills supply and opportunities in working life.

 “We need to have the opportunity to make a career in rural areas for people to move here,” said Ida Brännström.

Övertorneå has an aging population and a great need to reverse that trend. But a major obstacle is the image of Övertorneå.

 – The perception is that Övertorneå is far away and that there is nothing to do - that is an image to work with, said municipal politician Börje Rytiniemi (C).

Connecting the infrastructure

The pandemic has shown the possibilities of remote working. But an obstacle to both moving in and commuting is the lack of communications on the Swedish side of the Tornedalen.

The need to connect the infrastructure on both sides of the border came up again and again. On the Finnish side, both trains and flights are within a reasonable distance. There is a frustration in hearing the trains “on the other side” but not being able to use them.

The workshop participants discussed various issues in groups before finally providing their individual responses to the continued work on the regional development strategy.

Several workshop participants highlighted the need to remove administrative obstacles to cross-border cooperation. Due to the shortage of dentists, many residents of the municipality travel to Finland for dental care, but it is difficult to navigate the regulations and to receive reimbursement for part of the costs.

The evening before the dialogue, Region Norrbotten also met with entrepreneurs in Övertorneå and the chairman of the municipal board, Tomas Mörtberg. Around 40 companies attended, both from the central town and the villages, and provided their input into the new regional development strategy. Among other things, the importance of strengthening collaboration between companies on both sides of the border was highlighted.

“Important to listen”

And after the workshop, it was the young people's turn to have their say about the future. Then the Region met with middle and high school students at Ungdomsgården Frippes. The young people highlighted, among other things, the importance of being listened to, having places to meet, and having access to care and support.

– When you're not listened to, it feels like air, but when you're taken seriously, you feel like what you said was worth something, said a high school student.

The Frippes recreation center was described as a place where they are listened to. Apart from Frippes, they lack fun things to do in their free time and places to hang out.

– We are the future, it is important to listen to us, said one of the young Övertorneå residents who shared their thoughts on the work on our new regional development strategy.

Summary of input from Övertorneå

Text: Sara Stylbäck Vesa