Empowering Rural Entrepreneurship in the Alandic Archipelago

The Enhanced Employment Opportunities in Rural Areas project, launched in full swing during the fall, has already begun making strides. Åland’s national contact point had the opportunity to sit down with Agneta Wackström, operations manager at Företagsam Skärgård (Enterprising Archipelago), one of the eight partners involved, the day after the first local training session in Åland.

Project Overview
This project aims to foster self-employment among rural residents aged 50 and older, as well as youth up to 25, through entrepreneurship training, mentoring, and networking. The initiative involves six regional partners and two universities from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Åland, and Sweden. The project will deliver two 80-hour training programs over a nine-month period. These programs will feature a mix of local and cross-border courses, networking, mentoring sessions, study trips, and both group and individual work. Participants will be guided in developing their own business ideas to support the growth and sustainability of rural regions. By the end of the project, 104 rural residents from Central Baltic countries will have created business plans, earned certificates, and gained the skills and confidence to launch their own sustainable businesses.

Why Is This Project Important?
“This project is crucial for fostering entrepreneurship and creating livelihood opportunities in the archipelago,” says Agneta . “Our mission is to sustain a vibrant archipelago, and this initiative perfectly aligns with that goal. While attracting new residents is important, it is equally vital to support those already living in the archipelago in sustaining themselves and finding diversified income streams.”

In the archipelago, it is common to supplement seasonal businesses, such as those in tourism, with other activities during the off-season. Preventing outmigration due to limited employment opportunities is another key challenge the project addresses.

Progress So Far
The project team has been busy finalizing the program, recruiting, and matching participants with mentors. The first cross-border introduction on November 19 gathered around 80 participants, including mentors, trainees, and partners from all involved countries.

The session provided an overview of the program and featured real-life success stories from various project regions. Following this, the first local training session in Åland took place on November 27. Ellen Norrback, a funding officer at the Government of Åland, led a session on Åland’s business legislation, covering available national and EU funding for entrepreneurs. The next local session, scheduled in just a few weeks, will be hosted by Ålands Näringsliv (Åland’s Business Association). It will cover business structures, registration processes, and the organization’s extensive support offerings for entrepreneurs.

Key Learnings
One of the main challenges has been adapting to a primarily online format, essential for including participants from the archipelago, where ferry transportation can be limited. The team has focused on designing engaging virtual sessions by dividing participants into smaller working groups for interactive exercises and discussions.

Looking Ahead to Next Year
Next year holds exciting milestones for the project. Participants will meet in person for a three-day event, a much-anticipated opportunity to build networks and inspire one another. These days will include study trips and local learning seminars, enhancing their entrepreneurial skills.

Additionally, the first cohort will graduate from the program in the spring, complete with finalized business plans. “I can’t wait to see the innovative business models and hopefully witness some participants launching their ventures,” shares Agneta.

This project demonstrates the potential of cross-border collaboration and local empowerment in shaping a thriving rural future.

Read more about the project here.

Text: Jenny Jonstoij, National Contact Point Åland, 9.12.2024