Swedish town offers cash incentives to boost population

The small town of Glommersträsk in northern Sweden is offering financial incentives to attract new families in a bid to counteract its dwindling population and save the local primary school.

A local organisation is striving to save the primary school and revitalize the town through cash incentives. A small town in northern Sweden, Glommersträsk, is offering financial rewards to families willing to relocate there. Situated in Lapland, this area is ideal for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. However, the town’s population has significantly decreased over recent decades, with a particularly low number of school-age children, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The local primary school faces potential closure if the decline continues. To combat this, authorities are piloting a repopulation initiative, similar to those seen in Italy and Spain. Families who move to Glommersträsk can receive nearly €900 as part of the scheme.

Once home to 1,000 residents in 1950, the village now has only around 200 inhabitants, including just 23 primary school-aged children. If the student count drops below 25, the school may shut down, with students transferred to a school 40 kilometers away in Arvidsjaur. The town’s high school closed in 2009 due to dwindling numbers. Here's how you can get paid to move to Lapland. 

A local organisation is working to save the primary school and attract new residents through financial incentives. Glommersbygdens Framtid, which translates to "The Future of Glommersbygden" and refers to the surrounding area, is offering a cash bonus of 10,000 krona (about €875) to the first five families who move to the town.

To qualify, families must have children aged 6 to 15 who will attend the local Parkskolan for at least one academic year. The organization also provides assistance with finding housing and offers a list of local job opportunities. Non-EU citizens can apply but must first secure a Swedish residence permit. Why consider relocating to Glommersträsk? The town is nestled in untouched nature, yet essential services are easily accessible. 

The Skellefteå tech hub is about an hour away, and Arvidsjaur's high school is a 30-minute drive, while Luleå, a coastal city with beaches and a museum, is just two hours away. All three locations have small airports with connections to European countries like Germany and France. Speaking to the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN), a spokesperson for Glommersbygdens Framtid described the town as "a safe place where your children can grow up in a supportive community," adding that the cash offer is "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." The group also noted that one family has already applied, and another has recently relocated with children who will attend the primary school. "We’re hopeful that more families will follow," they told DN.