01.11.2021
North Ostrobothnia Association Award 2021 to Rautio Village Association and Rautio Trade Cooperative
The organisation act of Northern Ostrobothnia in 2021 will reward the communal activities of the Rautio Village Association and the Rautio Trade Cooperative in order to maintain the vitality of the village. In late autumn 2020, the Rautio Village Association bought the village store's real estate after the store's operations unexpectedly ended. The operation of the village trade continued on a cooperative basis with more than 200 voluntary members. The renovation of the premises was also carried out mainly on a voluntary basis through voluntary work.Vesa Hihnalla, Chairman of the Rautio Village Association, emphasizes the role of volunteers in the activities: “The project has required a huge amount of volunteer work from the villagers. Fortunately, there were also companies and construction professionals in the village who joined us”.
In addition to the retail trade, there are café, Posti, Veikkaus and pharmacy services available. “The aim was to develop services, not just to restore them. The village shop in Rautio is more than just a shop, it is an important meeting place for the people of the area", says Hihnalla. Fuel sales are expected to start this year. It is also planned to renovate the storage space and turn it into a warm one. This would enable new business activities in the property, such as a hairdresser's salon, a flea market and a point of sale for the villagers' own products.“Improving the services aims to increase the comfort of the villagers in their own village, and perhaps also to attract new residents,” says Hihnalla.
The award, handed over on Monday 1 November 2021 at the Regional Parliament of Northern Ostrobothnia, was received by Vesa Hihnalla, Chairman of the Rautio Village Association, Vesa Haapakoski, Secretary of the Rautio Village Association, and Hannu Niemelä, Chairman of the Rautio Trade Cooperative. The award was awarded for the third time and was presented by Esko Hassinen, Chairman of the North Ostrobothnia Organisational Advisory Board, and Ilpo Tapaninen, Planning Director of the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia.
In September, the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia requested proposals for the organisation work for Northern Ostrobothnia in 2021. This year's theme was Prevention of Social Exclusion. The award criteria emphasised in particular the cross-border dimension, effectiveness and the role of volunteering. An organizational act does not have to be an isolated act; it can be understood and interpreted more broadly. There were a total of eight proposals. As a prize, the association receives 1,000 euros to support its operations.
More information:Vesa Hihnalla, Chairman of the Rautio Village Association,
Tel. 044 7966 345Hannu Niemelä, Chairman of the Rautio Trade Cooperative,
Tel. 044 3222 085
The Regional Days of Northern Ostrobothnia will take place from 1 to 2 November 2021 at the Oulu Theatre.
For more information on the event, please contact Arja Hankivaara, Head of Communications and Administration, Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, tel. +358 50 3322 5797.
