“Huge potential for Swedish countryside today”

Everyone wants to see thriving rural areas - but how do we get there? The Älvarnas Rural Conference offered inspiring examples of local initiatives that are making a difference.

For two days, participants met to share knowledge, working methods, difficulties and successes, between the Råne River and the Lule River. The first day was held at Sörbyn Lodge a few kilometers from central Boden.

“As long as we have existed, the rivers have determined where we are. All migration patterns in the world have always been defined by that,” said Béatrice Öman (S), second vice-chair of the municipal council in Boden.

Crisis expert Patrick Sellman spoke about preparedness. He highlighted how vulnerable we are when it comes to food, with our low level of self-sufficiency. We take the food in the store for granted.

–We have never had such good access to food, and never had so little food in our vicinity.

Population doubled in five years

Karin Bångman had traveled to Boden from the village of Kaxås in Jämtland, where a well-known five-year project led to 35 new houses, a doubling of the population, a saved school and a new preschool. 90 percent of the movers came from other counties, mostly big cities.

– There is enormous potential for rural Sweden today and it is only increasing. It is possible to live here, work remotely and have better-paid jobs than in the big cities. But rural areas have a housing shortage and it is difficult to convince banks to invest.

Karin Bångman shared the inspiring example of Kaxås, which has completely reversed a bleak development. Photo: Boden Municipality

She also expressed frustration regarding the support from the municipality to which Kaxås belongs, Krokom.

– The long term is the biggest uncertainty we have. We pay a net of SEK 60 million to the municipality, but they haven't done much for us. Then say you don't care about the countryside, let us have our own economy, keep the money and decide locally.

“Achieve great things”

Erik Carlsson, Hakkasbygden's residents' economic association, talked about the cohesion that was born when the community came together to run a gas station. Now the association has contributed to more housing in the village. The association has partly taken over and renovated a run-down retirement home, partly demolished a row house and moved three houses there from the decommissioned Malmberget district.

They feel that there is trust in the association as a partner, including from Gällivare Municipality.

– We have shown that we can achieve big things in a short time with small resources. 

Erik Carlsson, Hakkasbygdens Boden Ekonomisk Förening, told about how a run-down retirement home has now been transformed into something called "teachers' housing. Photo: Boden Municipality

The municipality of Boden has cooperation agreements with economic associations in Gunnarsbybygden (RÅEK), Unbyn and Avan (UNEK) and Edeforsbygden (EDEK). 

– Those who live, survive and work in rural areas are best placed to determine needs, said Thomas Fägerman, CEO of Boden Business Park.

“Development instead of survival”

Jenny Engström is operations manager at RÅEK, which operates a service point on behalf of the municipality and has an agreement with the municipality of Boden to perform certain services.

– We get to be part of the municipality of Boden and influence decisions before they are made. We get to work with development instead of survival.

The business managers at the three service points in the municipality of Boden: Lina Vesterberg (Unek), Matilda Lundström (Edek) and Jenny Engström (Råek). Photo: Fredrik Broman

Day two of the Älvarnas rural development conference was held at Boden Business Park, and offered more interesting perspectives on rural development.

“No grant recipients”

Magdalena Pfaffl, Luleå University of Technology, has been researching sparsely populated areas for ten years. She emphasized that rural areas are definitely not passive beneficiaries.

– To the extent that they receive money from the state, region or municipality, it is not really a grant but payment for the important work they do for society.

Since even small changes can have a quick and clear impact in the small-scale context, she believes that rural areas can be used as living laboratories. In addition, there is diversity in the countryside – the villages have their own characters. 

– Everyone talks about the death of the countryside. But there is a strong commitment and desire to give back to the local community.

Magdalena Pfaffl has researched rural areas in several countries. She gave examples of six Norrbothnian villages with completely different characters. Photo: Fredrik Broman.

Her advice to municipalities and regions was simple.
– Promote agencies, make sure they get to do their thing, not the rural developer on the municipality's thing. Stop seeing the countryside as a grant recipient. And think about diversity, concluded Pfaffl.

This was followed by a session on the future of energy supply.

– We will have an increased need for wind power so I hope that incentive models for affected areas are introduced. Change NIMBY (“Not in my backyard”) to MINBY – “Money in northern backyards”. This means that we demand something in return for the activities in the backyard and that there will be inclusive investments that generate income and development in the area. We want to be part of this better society, said Erik Carlsson, Gällivare Näringsliv AB.

“Best choice I made”

Maja Huuva talked about the family business Huuva Hideaway, Sami cultural & nature tourism in the village of Liehittäjä in Övertorneå municipality. She now works in the company after having trained elsewhere in the county.

– Moving back to my village is the best choice I have made. There I have the opportunity to work, live, settle and have a good time. It gives me the opportunity to convey my culture, our values ​​and knowledge to others. How they fit together with the place we live in and nature. Opportunities in the countryside are super important. I believe in the opportunities in small villages and in Tornedalen, we must develop them. You don't have to do everything big. You don't have to have large-scale, said Maja Huuva.

Maja Huuva in conversation with Charlotte Lindmark, moderator. Photo: Fredrik Broman

Finally, Elin Wennberg from RISE Research Institutes of Sweden talked about how the concept of the "15-minute city" was transformed into the "Nearbygden" for rural areas in a Vinnova project.

– The 15-minute city is about creating proximity to social and practical functions. Reducing the need to travel. The smallest element is the meeting between people, that's where it starts. We have been inspired by the service points in the municipality of Boden. Imagine being close to service, a place where you can get help with building permits, shop second-hand, drink coffee or order snow removal, instead of going into town and walking to several different places.

The Älvarnas Rural Conference was arranged by EDEK, RÅEK and UNEK in collaboration with Boden Business Park, Boden Municipality, Boden Energi AB, Gällivare Municipality, Luleå Municipality and Region Norrbotten.

 Text: Sara Stylbäck Vesa