Discover Tierp - a paradise close at hand

TEXT: ELIZABETH DACEY FONDELIUS


THE MUNICIPALITY OF TIERP has no traffic wardens, so there’s no chance of a parking ticket – but please don’t park illegally anyway - there’s more than enough space for everyone whether you are in the area on business or pleasure. Situated just north of Uppsala, until recently Tierp and its 20,000 inhabitants had remained cozily tucked away quietly enjoying its fabulous advantages and terrific natural benefits. But Tierp has taken it upon itself to spread the news and reveal the opportunities and resources within its borders to Swedes and non-Swedes alike, to the visitor, prospective resident or business investor.

PARADISE CLOSE-AT- HAND
In Tierp, paradise is just around the corner. The municipality is just over an hour’s drive from Stockholm along the E4 motorway, Sweden’s main traffic artery, between Uppsala and Gävle. It’s an easy day’s outing or a convenient weekend away for residents of Stockholm, Uppsala and Gävle. Indeed the entire northern Mälar region is within striking distance for an enjoyable excursion.
For the tourist or the day-tripper, Tierp offers many exciting destinations. It boasts 80km of coastline, has Sweden’s best salmon fishing and quite a number of preserved and renovated iron-smithing industrial estates set in beautiful locations steeped in history and cultural interest.

FISHING
Nedre Dalälven is touted as “ Sweden’s most complete fishing area” with its 200km of varied fishing. The river is a shifting landscape of bays filled with pike, perch and pike-perch, and innumerable islands separated by stretches of rapids where grayling and trout await your line.
In Älvkarleby the fishing enthusiast can try his luck catching salmon and brown trout. It has an extensive infrastructure devoted to the sports fisherman. Tourist offices near the fishing conservation area offer teaming information about everything you could need to know and sell the obligatory fishing licenses. All that remains is rigging up and making a good cast.

WALLOON HERITAGE
The father of Swedish industry, Louis de Geer, brought the iron industry to Uppland in the middle of the 17 th century. He imported from his native Wallonia, a region of modern-day Belgium, the workforce with the know-how to manufacture iron and iron products. Many of these industrial estates are preserved. They make fantastic day trips from Stockholm and romantic destinations for weekend getaways.
The Söderfors foundry was first established in 1676 to provide the royal fleet with anchors. It managed to survive the steel crisis and is still a quaint community with delightful architecture including a Greek temple, a church, the manor house, epoch-buildings including two museums as well as a lovingly tended English park for summer strolls. Söderfors Herrgård is today a conference centre and hotel for golfers, fishing enthusiasts and romantic couples.
Tierp is so close to Stockholm that its home to the Stockholm Skydiving Club which regularly provides thrill seekers an opportunity for a tandem skydive. Its members are world-renowned including several members of the world team who set a new record in Thailand in January 2006.

SETTING UP HOUSE AND HOME IN TIERP
As Stockholm becomes more populated and property prices soar, Tierp becomes an economically sound choice.
Property for permanent or recreational investors is reasonably priced. Per Nordenstam, the head of the city council, points out, “You can buy a castle in the Tierp region for the price of a house in Stockholm –literally.”
For those interested in relocation to this dynamic region the infrastructure is appealing. The municipality is committed to investing over SEK 300 million over the next 5 years in education and continues its efforts to reduce council tax levels.
Currently there is already a commuter train between the town of Tierp and Uppsala. The net will eventually extend to connect to the SL station at Upplands-Väsby. Gävle and Stockholm will ultimately be linked for daily commuters and weekenders. The most exciting building project running through the area is the new E4 motorway. It will be inaugurated on 15 October 2007 and will reduce the driving time between Uppsala and Gävle by 30 minutes.

INDUSTRIAL KNOW-HOW AND DEVELOPMENT CLUSTERED TOGETHER
The region in which Tierp is found, Uppland, has a long-standing manufacturing tradition –over 400 years of industrial experience with a competent and well-trained workforce. Now granted there isn’t the same demand for blacksmiths as there might have been in the age of Louis de Geer, but the tradition lives on as part of Uppland’s cultural heritage. This tradition of industry and an industrious population has survived in the modern day as an exciting business model.
Tierp is physically well-situated with excellent road, rail and air transportation links. It is within a striking radius of several institutions of higher education including two universities. Tierp’s local council recently made an in-depth analysis of its industrial advantages and resources available to potential commercial enterprises. The council members are positive and upbeat in their enthusiasm to welcome and assist new businesses. They are committed to smooth setup and slim simplifi ed bureaucratic processes for the convenience of prospective new companies. Tierp is exceptionally appealing to concerns within the engineering industry.

CLUSTERING OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES
The concept of clustering similar industries has proved successful generation after generation. In Northern Uppland there are two types of engineering companies that have begun to pool resources and work together strategically: high tech companies with exports like Sandvik, Atlas Copco, Munthers, Habia Cable, and small and medium companies which supply qualified cooperation for production. The current umbrella organization comprises 27 partners. Their goal is to support the members. These members derive mutual benefits from their cooperation in that they don’t have to invest separately in all areas beneficial to their respective businesses. As part of a larger group their negotiating position is stronger in dealing with outside entities, including the local authorities.
Whatever your interest is, Tierp offers close, convenient and world-class opportunities, whether it is for a short stay or a longer relationship with Sweden’s most dynamic municipality. As they say, “Everything is possible in Tierp.”