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

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

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

SETTLED DURING THE 1740s TO SERVE SEAFARING

UTÖ AT THE END OF 1800s

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: 20 %  Working age population: 55 %  Population over the age of 60: 25 %  Percentage of unemployed: 0 %  Working population in the 3rd sector: 100 %

UTÖ TODAY

BASIC SERVICES  Water and sewer system  Electricity since the 1940s  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 in Finnish, Swedish and Englishwww.uto.fi  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 budgetPublic contributionPrivate contribution (used) Project (EU 50%477.91) (State 30 % ) (municipalities 20% ) Project (EU 50% ) (State 30% ) (municipalities 20% ) Project (EU 50% ) (State 30% ) (municipalities 20% ) _______________________________________________________________________ TOTAL (EU 50%23 569,38)( by voluntary (State 30% )work) (municipalities 20% )