WELCOME TO VÄXJÖ!

The history of Växjö

1200Växjö became an Episcopal see, a city of learning and a centre of commerce and culture

1342King Magnus Eriksson granted Växjö its town charter

1542Nils Dacke of Kronoberg Castle led the peasant revolt against King Gustav Vasa

1643The establishment of Växjö's first high school with 500 students

It began 3000 - 4000 years ago... Areas around lakes and waterways were cleared.

In the 11th century, Sigfrid the English missionary arrived in Värend as the first Christian messenger.

The history of Växjö

1658The Peace of Roskilde moves the border south of Växjö to Öresund

1727The king of botany, Carl von Linné – one of Sweden's most famous figures – graduates in Växjö

1843The whole of Växjö was burned to the ground. But the cathedral and school buildings remained standing. Local paper headlines: "Växjö is no more"

The modern history of Växjö

In the early 1900s, Växjö began to grow and expand.

1900The population trebled in just over 50 years. At the turn of the century 7400 people lived in Växjö. In 1940, the figure was 15,600

1940Södra Skogsägarna was established as a business. Today, this is an international forestry group

1950 – 60Svenska Fläktfabriken and Telub were established in Växjö. New housing estates developed.

Växjö became a branch of Lund University in 1967

1970Växjö's position as a city of learning is confirmed. 37,000 residents in Växjö

The modern history of Växjö

1980Växjö is home of world-famous tennis star Mats Wilander and racing champion Lill-Lövis. In 1981, Öster, the Växjö football team in the highest league, wins its fourth gold in the Swedish Championships

1992Växjö celebrates its 650th anniversary

1999Växjö granted university status

2006The city of Växjö now has 54, 000 inhabitants and 77, 000 live in the region as a whole

FACTS ABOUT THE MUNICIPALITY OF VÄXJÖ

Distributions of seats in the City Council

 Party number of seatsConservative Party 16Centre Party 6Liberal Party 4Christian Democrats 4

Social Democrats 20Left-Wing Party 6Green Party 3

Swedish democrats 2

How is the money spent?

Växjö Local Authority operations cost approx. SEK 2.3 billion net.

Geriatric care (32,4%)

Child care (9,8%)

Technical operations (3,2%)

Governing council (5,6%)

Miscellaneous (2,6%)

Social security (6,9%)

Culture and leisure (5,4%)

Education (34,1%)

External revenues

State subsidy (19,9%)

Financial revenues (1,8%)

Fees (8,2%)

Miscellaneous (8,8%)

Tax (61,3%)

Växjö local authority organisation

CITY COUNCIL (61)

Child and Youth Committee

Executive Committee

Equal Opportunities Committee

Schools and child care board

Local authority council in Lammhult

Social welfare board

Local housing committee

Cultural committee

Technical committee

Sports and recreation committee

Environment and public health committee

Election committee

Upper secondary education committee

Care committee

Guardianship committee

Integration committee

Municipal companies and institutions

Växjö Kommunfastigheter AB (KFAB)

Vidingehem AB

Värendshus AB

Hyresbostäder I Växjö AB

Växjöhem AB

Växjö Fastighetsförvaltning AB (VÖFAB)

Braås Industrifastigheter AB

Vidéum Fastighets AB

PROPERTY

(PARENT COMPANY)

Stiftelsen Braåsbyggen

Växjö Energi AB (VEAB)

Växjö Energi Elnät

ELECTRICITY AND HEATING

(PARENT COMPANY)

Växjö Flygplats AB (42%)

AIRPORTS

Växjö kommuns parkerings AB

CAR PARKS

Växjö Teater AB

THEATRES

MFA Sydost AB (24,3%)

TOXIC WASTE

Working for equality in Växjö

Programme for Equal Opportunities

The Local Authorities put equality work into practice:

- Forming public opinion, goals that concern citizens of the region

- Goals that concern the work and service provided by the local authorities

- Goals that concern its 6000 employees, i.e. employment philosophy

- Goals that concern the elected representatives’, women's and men's representation and conditions in politics

The Committee for Equal Opportunities works to form public opinion

Activities for the promotion of equal opportunities

Annual equal opportunity prize awarded

Spread awareness of the five master suppression techniques

Annual national conference on equal opportunities

Shorter working hours - more pay or less hours? Annual offer to all employees

Employment assessment - equal pay for equivalent work

Information about equal opportunities, integration and the Child Convention. All three aspects should be an intricate part of everyday work

Our work affects everyone!

6000 employees in administration

600 workplaces

150 professional categories

300 managers

19 union organisations

80% women

400 employees in municipal companies

An attractive employer

Individual choices and flexibility

Personnel programme 2000

Idea catalogue for improved working environment

Shorter working hours

Employment assessment

Personnel club

Occupational health care

Trainee programme

BUSINESS

Large companies/employers in the region

Landstinget Kronoberg

Växjö kommun

Växjö universitet

Volvo Construction Equipment AB

Alwex Transport AB

Saab AB

ICA Handlarna AB

A-betong Precon AB

Smålandsposten

Thorsman Växjö AB

Skanska Sverige AB

Sörman

Posten Sverige

Carrier Refrigeration AB

Atea Sverige AB

IST International Software Trading

TG Skrivab AB

Alstom Power Sweden AB

Getinge Disinfection AB

SÖDRA Wexiödisk AB

Visma SPCS

KF

Fläkt Woods AB

Adecco

Rottne Industrier

Balco

TietoEnator

Boss Media

IV Produkt AB

Combitech AB

Employment by industry/businessIndustry/business Number employed Municipality % Sweden %

Trade and communications 7 992 20,5 18,4

Health and social care 6 995 17,9 16,1

Manufacturing and mining 5 724 14,7 18,3

Financial and business services 5 402 13,8 14,1

Education and research 4 231 10,9 10,3

Personal and cultural services 2 448 6,3 7,1

Construction 2 304 5,9 5,6

Public administration, etc. 1 916 4,9 5,8

Non-specified activities 1 040 2,7 1,9

Agriculture, forestry and fishing 716 1,8 1,8

Energy, water and waste 242 0,6 0,6

Total 39 010 100 100

Refers to ages 16 and over. Source: Statistics Sweden 2004

Growth – it´s happening in Växjö!

Increasing population. 954 new inhabitants in 2002

1400 new dwellings / houses in 2002- 2003

Call Centre/Contact Centre + 500 people

Möbelriket - the furniture design centre of Sweden

Växjö University is expanding

Police Academy

InternetCity

Some 300 new businesses are registered annually(Approximately 7000 companies, of which 400 are IT companies.)

Growth – it´s happening in Växjö!

Samarkand - shopping centre

Cinema complex

New city library

Tennis Centre

Golfriket - golf centre

Swimming baths with adventure pool

Arenastaden

World Trade Center

New independent schools set up

DYNAMIC VÄXJÖ

Dynamic Växjö

"Our vision is that a collaboration between the local authorities and regional businesses will help to market our region and enhance its attraction and thereby increase economic growth.

By emphasising its special values and promoting what Växjö really has to offer, we are creating the right conditions for attracting new inhabitants and successful, interesting businesses.

Växjö should be associated with creativity, enterprise, growth and optimism for the future."

The goal is that by 2010 Växjö will have…

At least 82,000 citizens in the region

Three times the current number of R&D companies

At least 4000 more jobs (net)

The brands four profiles

Trade and industry

Favourable business climate, stimulative spirit of enterprise

Expertise in the broadest sense

University and school city

Its geographical position

A regional centre of power between the Öresund Region and Mälardalen

Range of experiences

Culture, sports, countryside

VÄXJÖ UNIVERSITY

Växjö university

63 education programmes

Approximately 15, 000 students

Exchange programmes with over 300 universities worldwide

The current figure of 60 professors will increase to 90 over the next five years

900 research, teaching and administration staff

1200 courses in 50 different subjects

Research profiles

Forest, timber and bio-energy

Labour market, migration and ethnic relations

Business and corporate development

Education and didactics

GREENEST CITY IN EUROPE

2000 Local Initiatives Awards Winner for Excellence in Atmospheric Protection

2007 City of Växjö received Sustainable Energy Europe Award 2007 in the category Sustainable Community. Fossil Fuel Free programme is an overall program to reduce human impact on global climate change.

City of Växjö - Award Winner

Environmental history

VEAB – the municipality’s energy company, bio energy and district heating, 1980’s

Yearly Environmental report since 1994

Decision to be Fossil Fuel Free Växjö, 1996

Governmental Ecological Investment Grants from national and EU-level (Klimp, EU-projects)

Every day work

Environmental management system - ecoBUDGET

Environmental programme, adopted by city council 2006

Projects (finance partly from National and European level)

Living lifeVision

In Växjö, we have the vision that we will, live and act so as to contribute to sustainable development where our consumption and production are resource-effective and pollution free.

Our nature

Vision

We have the vision that clear water, fresh air and a diverse natural and cultural environment, with a rich biological diversity will characterise the town, and the urban and rural areas of the municipality.

Fossil Fuel Free Växjö

Vision

We have the vision of a fossil fuel free Växjö, where our energy consumption does not lead to any climate change.

The City of Växjö strives to use energy from renewable sources of energy, to use energy efficiently and to go over to a fossil fuel free transport system.

The emissions of carbon dioxide from Växjö have decreased by 30 % per capita between 1993 and 2006.

Fossil Fuel Free VäxjöPrioritized areas to create a fossil fuel free Växjö:

Transports

- Municipal car-sharing with environmentally adapted cars.

- Good network of cycle paths.

- Education in eco-driving.

- Free parking for environmentally adapted cars.

- Increased biogas production, to be used for vehicles.

Energy

- Increase use of bio-fuel by extend the district heating and cooling.

- Construction of energy efficient houses.

Emissions of fossil CO2 (kg/inh)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Total Transport Heating Power Goal 2010 Goal 2025

Local climate commission

The local climate commission was founded in February 2007. The purpose is to find out what have to be done to achieve a fossil fuel free city.

The commission consists of representatives from the politicians, the university and the business sector