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

2. 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

3. LOCATION IN THE OUTERMOST ARCHIPELAGO
Turku
Utö
50 km hrs
50 km ,5 hrs

4. SETTLED DURING THE 1740s TO SERVE SEAFARING

5. 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

6. 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 %

7. UTÖ TODAY

8. 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

9. AN EARLY MORNING IN THE SPRING

10. INTERESTING BIRDLIFE

11. THE LIGHTHOUSE AND PILOT STATION

12. THE SPRING – EIDER DUCKS

13. IN THE MIDST OF NATURE

14. IN THE SUMMER

15. THE ANNUAL FISHING COMPETITION IN NOVEMBER

16. A ROCK CONCERT BY LOCAL YOUNGSTERS

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. THE PROJECT SUPERVISOR, MS. JOHANNA PAKOLA

21. 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

22. 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

23. UTÖ IN DECEMBER

24. UTÖ IN JANUARY

25. UTÖ IN FEBRUARY

26. UTÖ IN MARCH

27. 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 English
The spirit of doing things together

28. MR JOHANNES KETOLA WITH HIS FAMILY, A NEWCOMER AND ENTREPRENEUR

29. MS. HANNA KOVANEN, A RETURNING MIGRANT AND TOURIST OPERATOR

30. MR. CAJ ÖSTERLUND, A RETURNING MIGRANT AND TOURIST OPERATOR

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

32. 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

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

34. THE BUDGET Total budget Public contribution Private contribution
(used)
Project 1 1 
(EU 50% )
(State 30 % )
(municipalities 20% )
Project 2 33     706.70
(EU 50% 13 413.42)
(State 30% 8 048.05)
(municipalities 20% 5 365.37)
Project 3 24     839.03
(EU 50% )
(State 30% 5 806.83)
(municipalities 20% 3 871.22)
_______________________________________________________________________
TOTAL 58     784.69
(EU 50% 23 569,38) ( by voluntary
(State 30% 14 141.63) work)
(municipalities 20% 9 427.75)