From current situation to new situation: Attractiveness as a basis for regional development in Ånge municipality

For a long number of years, Västernorrland has had a weak economic development and a stagnating/declining population, but is now facing a revolutionary wave of industrialization and transition. This means both problems and opportunities.

The attractiveness of places determines where people choose to settle. Research shows that it is crucial for access to skills. Without attractiveness, individuals do not move to the place to the extent that is needed, and those who do do not stay to the extent that is required, but tend to become so-called fly-in/fly-out citizens or leave the place for good.

Background

In Ånge municipality, a completely new industrial area – Site Alby – is being built on land owned by the municipality. In close collaboration with the actors who will establish operations in the area, the vision is to refine the main input into green electricity as far as possible. In parallel with this, the municipality is working on place marketing, including in the form of a so-called welcome-here platform, and on launching Ånge as a sustainable municipality. Not least important is the work on skills supply in collaboration with the business community and several of the municipality's largest employers, and that the employers act as good ambassadors for the municipality in various ways.

The project is expected to provide theoretical understanding and practical advice regarding obstacles and opportunities for skills supply, business expansions, establishments and growth in municipal contexts. Ånge municipality will have access to research-based knowledge and working methods in order to be able to develop the work on the attractiveness of places, skills supply and establishments based on its specific conditions. Through the project, CER at Mid Sweden University will further develop research on factors that affect the attractiveness of places.

Dissemination

Interactions between existing networks that work to promote attractiveness and growth will be studied. The collected data will then be analyzed and compared with different study objects and municipalities. The results will be presented and discussed in workshops with the municipality and compiled in a final report. The results will also be published in a scientific article.

Project organization

The project is funded by Mid Sweden University's municipal collaboration agreement and is coordinated by researchers from the Centre for Research on Economic Relations (CER) and CERUM at Umeå University. Representatives from the municipality concerned also participate.