Quality of life in rural areas: experiences and cooperationBrussels, 25 October 2004

European Commission

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

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 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 Public contribution Private contribution(used)

Project 1 1 194.78 955.82 238.96 (EU 50% 477.91)(State 30 % 286.75)(municipalities 20% 191.16)

Project 2 33 533.54 26 826.84 6 706.70(EU 50% 13 413.42)(State 30% 8 048.05)(municipalities 20% 5 365.37)

Project 3 24 195.13 19 356.10 4 839.03(EU 50% 9 678.05)(State 30% 5 806.83)(municipalities 20% 3 871.22)

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TOTAL 58 923.45 47 138.76 11 784.69(EU 50% 23 569,38) (2171.48 by voluntary (State 30% 14 141.63) work)(municipalities 20% 9 427.75)