Energy renovation is good for the village hall – and your wallet
Energy renovations of village houses are more relevant than ever before. Rising energy prices and the support available for renovations encourage village associations to update old heating systems with newer and more energy-efficient solutions. It is often also worth investing in additional thermal insulation and door and window renovations to improve energy efficiency overall. New technologies, such as consumption control and energy storage, offer smarter alternatives for renovations. The benefits of energy renovation are seen not only in reduced […]
December Newsletter – Christmas Greetings from Liiveri
December newsletter topics: The year of the Youth Division: new beginnings and experiments Hire a young developer – apply for funding! When the village shop disappears and is reborn – the self-service model offers a new opportunity See the list of those who received funding – 20 new recipients of support Granted support by municipality Prameet schools – Youth Leader theme application open until the end of January! Government spring meeting dates Regional administration reform causes a break in rural development support […]
See the list of those who received funding
We will publish the funding received when the ELY Centre has made an official decision on them. The decisions made by the ELY Centre between 20 October and 14 December 2025 are listed below. Project grants Investments in the development of the rural operating environment Koivulakson Vesi Oy – Purchase and installation of an automatic backup power generator Koskuen Nuorisoseura ry. – Relocation of the summer theatre auditorium Cooperation projects between young farmers and business Finvibes Consulting Oy – Cooperation in a business group project Business grants Full-time […]
See the list of those who received funding
We will publish the funding received when the ELY Centre has made an official decision on them. The decisions made by the ELY Centre between 20 October and 14 December 2025 are listed below. Project grants Investments in the development of the rural operating environment Koivulakson Vesi Oy – Purchase and installation of an automatic backup power generator Koskuen Nuorisoseura ry. – Relocation of the summer theatre auditorium Cooperation projects between young farmers and business Finvibes Consulting Oy – Cooperation in a business group project Business grants Full-time […]
Recycling and composting reduce costs
In village communities and associations, developing waste management can seem like a big deal, but the most important thing is to start. Along the way, recycling and composting can always be developed further. According to environmental advisor Aana Vainio, developing sorting can also bring savings to the association if sorting can reduce the need for waste management. By planning to control waste, Aana feels that the waste hierarchy begins even before waste is created. Even before […]
A walk into the future through the eyes of a young person
“On Thursday, November 13, 2025, we gathered in the Seurala yard in Pojanluoma for a future walk. At the beginning of the event, we toured the yard of the Seurala village hall and discussed its possibilities and various development ideas. Due to the windy and drizzly weather, we quickly moved indoors to take a closer look at what needs to be taken into account when designing the yard, and how the project can be implemented sustainably. My thoughts were directed directly towards how to make the yard more comfortable for children and young people. […]
Sustainable use of peatlands opens up new opportunities for villages
Peatland restoration goals are significant in Finland, and villages can play a surprisingly large role in their implementation. Peatlands offer village communities diverse opportunities, especially for the development of nature tourism and recreational use. For example, fire basins built in peat areas can be part of the villages’ preparedness and safety, which emphasizes the multifunctionality of the areas. According to Jaakko Liinamaa of the Forest Centre, small actors in villages – such as village clubs, associations and other active communities – […]
Small streams create a large flow – combating invasive species is possible together
Maria Kylmäluoma, who works in the green area services of the City of Lapua, and Miska Rossinen-Kaihlamäki, an activist of the Kurikka Nature Association, say that alien species cause considerable harm to the local species and landscape. The most common and familiar species to many are, for example, the lupine, the giant balsam and the dog rose. Alien plants spread quickly and take over the area from traditional native species, many of which are already endangered. Control work is complicated by extensive occurrences and seed banks, which is why […]
When the village store disappears and is reborn – the self-service model offers a new opportunity
The decline of village shops has affected many rural communities, but new self-service solutions and community-based projects bring hope for maintaining vitality. Risto Kortetjärvi (Fiksukyläkaupat Oy) is a full-time village shopkeeper who owns several village shops operating on a self-service model. Kortetjärvi says that his career has gone from being an automation engineer to being a full-time village shopkeeper. – We moved to the country, and there was no shop there. We decided to start it ourselves, and since we couldn’t […]
Sustainable events are born from planning, collaboration and a positive attitude
Village and association events play an important role in building community, but they are increasingly seen as places to promote environmental responsibility. Sustainable event production does not only mean sorting waste, but a holistic way of thinking that takes into account ecological, social and cultural perspectives. Currently, the Seinäjoki District is focusing on improving the ecology of the area and special attention is paid to environmental friendliness when organizing events. The themes are related to the ongoing District […]