European Commission Quality of life in rural areas

European Commission Quality of life in rural areas: experiences and cooperation Brussels, 25 October 2004

UTÖ – A VIBRANT COMMUNITY ALL YEAR ROUND Southwest Finland’s outermost archipelago § three consecutive Leader+ projects during the years 2001 -2004 § to preserve year-round habitation and safeguard basic services § applicant the Utö Home District Association

LOCATION IN THE OUTERMOST ARCHIPELAGO Turku 50 km Utö 4 hrs 1, 5 hrs

SETTLED DURING THE 1740 s TO SERVE SEAFARING

POPULATION TODAY § 40 all-year-round inhabitants (30 civilians and 10 in the service of the army) § approx. 30 conscripts in the military service § approx. 10 native-born Utö residents who work on the mainland but pay their taxes to the local municipality § approx. 150 return to the home island to spend the summer

AGE DISTRIBUTION OF THE 40 ALL-YEAR INHABITANTS § Population below the age of 20: § Working age population: § Population over the age of 60: 20 % 55 % 25 % § Percentage of unemployed: 0 % § Working population in the 3 rd sector: 100 %

UTÖ TODAY

BASIC SERVICES § Water and sewer system § Electricity since the 1940 s § All-year-round grocer’s and post office § Municipal library § Wireless broadband Internet connection § Comprehensive school since 1884, classes 0 -6 § Incredible nature

AN EARLY MORNING IN THE SPRING

INTERESTING BIRDLIFE

THE LIGHTHOUSE AND PILOT STATION

THE SPRING – EIDER DUCKS

IN THE MIDST OF NATURE

IN THE SUMMER

THE ANNUAL FISHING COMPETITION IN NOVEMBER

A ROCK CONCERT BY LOCAL YOUNGSTERS

THE BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECTS § In 2001 the army announced that the island’s military operations would be reduced § The last governmental employer would vanish in a few years § All-year vibrant community was threatened

THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT § To keep up the vibrant community all year round § To preserve all services § To search for new people to use the services § To bring the properties released by the military into residential use § To respect nature-based values and sustainable development § To preserve the traditions and culture of the island

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECTS § First project: A village plan for Utö § Second project: Creation of contacts with the Municipality of Korpo, the local military authority, Ministry of Defense and Senate Properties that owns the real estate left unused by the Finnish Army § Third project: Planning of a realty company for the administration of housing and creating a vision to the year 2010

THE PROJECT SUPERVISOR, MS. JOHANNA PAKOLA

PROBLEMS § To find our negotiating partner from the public administration § The slowness of the decision-making process in the public administration § Utö has willing movers in the queue but the empty dwellings remain empty for a second year § The decision from the municipality’s decision-makers is lacking

THE PUBLICITY § Lots of publicity in the media § Attention from the Finnish government § Almost 100 potential movers notified our project supervisor § The profile of a potential mover

UTÖ IN DECEMBER

UTÖ IN JANUARY

UTÖ IN FEBRUARY

UTÖ IN MARCH

THE RESULTS § 10 new inhabitants § The school continues § The grocer’s still functions all year round § Three new companies established § Wireless broadband Internet connection § Website www. uto. fi in Finnish, Swedish and English § The spirit of doing things together

MR JOHANNES KETOLA WITH HIS FAMILY, A NEWCOMER AND ENTREPRENEUR

MS. HANNA KOVANEN, A RETURNING MIGRANT AND TOURIST OPERATOR

MR. CAJ ÖSTERLUND, A RETURNING MIGRANT AND TOURIST OPERATOR

MR. MARKKU KARPIO AND MS. SUSANNA SJÖMAN, AN AUTHOR AND A TRANSLATOR

THE PLANNED REALTY COMPANY § Takes care of the administration of housing § Offers one job opportunity § Rents out available dwellings for newcomers § Planned shareholders: § The Municipality of Korpo (26 %) § The Utö Home District Association (26 %) § Åbo Akademi University Foundation (48 %) marine biology research unit

THE ISLAND OF UTÖ - THE FUTURE (Convernet? ) /Military area

THE BUDGET Total budget (used) Public contribution Project 1 1 194. 78 955. 82 Project 2 33 533. 54 26 826. 84 Project 3 24 195. 13 Private contribution 19 356. 10 (EU 50% (State 30 % (municipalities 20% 477. 91) 286. 75) 191. 16) (EU 50% (State 30% (municipalities 20% 13 413. 42) 8 048. 05) 5 365. 37) 238. 96 6 706. 70 4 839. 03 (EU 50% 9 678. 05) (State 30% 5 806. 83) (municipalities 20% 3 871. 22) ____________________________________ TOTAL 58 923. 45 47 138. 76 (EU 50% (State 30% (municipalities 20% 11 784. 69 23 569, 38) (2171. 48 by voluntary 14 141. 63) work) 9 427. 75)