The city of Kankaanpää has applied for Leader funding for a two-year preparedness and security development project. This is a cooperation project under the Smart Villages action line supported by the European Rural Development Fund. The active Pohjois-Satakunta Association has, for its part, advocated for the approval of project funding. The application has been transferred to the ELY Centre, where an official funding decision will be made.
Everyday life safe is a preparedness and continuity management development project implemented by the City of Kankaanpää and domestic and Nordic partners. The project supports Kankaanpää's overall security work and builds a foundation for sustainable everyday life for residents in all situations. The goal is to strengthen the operational reliability of services and the ability of residents to act in disruption and crisis situations.
-The project will, among other things, build cooperation between the city, authorities and residents, provide residents with tools to cope with disruptions, evaluate the introduction of village radio technology to support information, and establish a village information network, explains the development director of the city of Kankaanpää. Ulla Norrbo.
According to Norrbo, the target group of the project is the city's management and employees as well as a wide range of population groups, for example residents of more remote areas, the elderly, families with children and immigrants.
Expected results and impacts of the project:
- Strengthening cooperation improves operational capabilities
- The preparedness skills of local residents are increasing.
- Development of village security
- Development of the city's operational security
- Networking and collaboration promote learning from the good practices of others
The project is implemented by the City of Kankaanpää in partnership with the Rescue Department / Satakunta Welfare Area, the Finnish Red Cross, the Voluntary Rescue Service, the Finnish Defence Women, business associations and village associations. The project also includes domestic and Swedish actors from the Nordic Preparedness project.
The European Rural Development Fund supports cooperation projects for the development of businesses and rural services.
Smart Villages collaboration projects are development projects in which at least two actors work together to find a solution to a challenge. The actors can be, for example, villages or municipalities, or even a village and a development organization together. The Smart Villages project promotes renewal, new solutions, bold experiments, new partnerships and networking at regional, national and international levels.
Smart Villages projects promote sustainable development principles, digitalization and innovation. The innovations related to the project can be social, economic or environmental. For example, the project can promote the circular economy and local energy communities, support integration and remote work or distance learning opportunities, or develop the digitalization of businesses or industries in the area.
Additional information:
City of Kankaanpää, Development Director Ulla Norrbo, 044 577 5202, [email protected]