Innovative Village – Preparatory Project

Ääneseudun Kehitys Oy – Development Centre of Äänekoski and Konnevesi Ltd – has been the lead partner in a preparatory project called Innovative Village funded by Northern Periphery Programme.

The project has ended after producing the application for the main project in Spring 2010. The application was not accepted. Instead it was given some conditions after which the project could be accepted. Agreeing with those conditions would have changed the original project idea too much.

In 2011 the project idea has been developed further. A preparatory project for an international Leader project is coordinated by JAMK University of Applied Sciences.

Goal: Active, Innovative and Functional Villages

The goal of the project has been to produce a good project application of the main project Innovative Village.

The original aim of Innovative Village was to strengthen the villages (= village associations or equivalent local democratic action groups) to actively handle change, strengthen their relations with the municipal decision making, and get the a good service structure for the country side.

After a series of discussions the project has been reformed. Is still aiming at active, innovative villages - but now the main aim is to enhance their business know-how and the whole money flow in the villages. The lead partner of the project will be JAMK University of Applied Sciences www.jamk.fi

The targets of the project will be both rural businesses and associations that have "products" to market and sell - festivals, village houses or hunting cabins, sports events, services for the elderly, local souvenirs etc. A lot of the quality of living in rural areas is dependable on associations which cannot function without a balanced budget.

In Finland special attention is given to the municipal mergers which cause practical and emotional changes especially in the rural areas but also give an opportunity to rethink old ways of action.

Schedule of the Preparatory Project

• Autumn-winter 2008: discussing the project idea with four towns in Central Finland and some possible international partners.
• January-February 2009: writing the application with the Regional Development Company of Äänekoski and Konnevesi as the lead partner and Development Company of East Island as the partner.
• Project period 1.2.2009 - 23.3..2010.
• Spring - autumn 2009: international contacts and discussions, negotiations about the project
• January - March 2010: application of the Innovative Village project written and submitted to the NPP secretariat.
  

Budget of the Preparatory Project

In the Northern Periphery Programme funding for ERDF member countries such as Finland is 60 %. Island as a non-member state receives a grant of 50 % of the eligible costs.

	Total	Grant	Private cash funding
Central Finland	24.200	14.520	9.680
East-Island	13.300	6.650	6.650
Total	37.500	21.170	16.630