Liveri is currently working on a strategy for the years 2023–2027. Making a good local strategy is important in order to know how to direct the next season's funding to exactly the areas that we want to develop in our region. Liiveri involves local people in making strategies, because they have the best knowledge of what kind of measures should be taken to develop the area's comfort and economic activity, and what they themselves are ready to commit to.
In the spring of 2022, four expert groups were assembled: villages, entrepreneurship, young people, and leisure and hobbies. Thanks to teamwork, the strategy provided valuable information about what kind of measures and changes are needed to maintain and improve the vitality of our region in the next five years. The working groups were assembled from the region, utilizing Liiver's extensive networks. There were 10–20 members in the groups, and four members of Liiver's board of directors acted as chairpersons of the groups. As chairman of the Kylät working group Matti Koivuluoma, as chairman of the Entrepreneurship working group Pia Rita-Luopa, chairman of the Youth working group, deputy member of Liiver's board and member of the youth department Outi Manty and as chairman of the Leisure and hobbies working group Päivi Alaniska.
The groups met twice. On the third occasion, all groups gathered at a joint strategy meeting to hear and discuss their own and other groups' results. At the closing ceremony, the name of the strategy was voted on, and the option received the most votes Roots and wings, which was chosen as the name of the strategy for the coming season.
At the event, the chairpersons of the expert working groups presented the results of the working group and took notes from the discussions held in the working group. In the speeches, it was emphasized that Liiver's operations should continue to be close and that low-threshold support should be available for projects. Liiveri is seen as an entity that is easy to contact. More effort should be put into communication, so that target and stakeholder groups have information about which situations it is worth turning to Liiver.
For the coming season, for example, they hoped for themed project searches, umbrella projects and help for the first steps of internationalization. Today, doing business is diverse and Liiver must enable development for very different operators. Liiver is also expected to have a long-term development partnership.
We want to erase regional borders and, in addition, we want to increase cooperation between those in the same field. Supporting emigration, enabling remote work, getting young people and young families involved in the activities of villages and communities, and maintaining village houses are also considered important. Young people think it is important that they have safe places to spend their free time and safe adults to accompany them in everyday life.
Many thanks to everyone who participated in the working groups. The preparation of the strategy will continue in Liiver until June. After that, the strategy will be submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for evaluation, and we will be excitedly waiting for the Leader group to be selected and the funding decision!