EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - AlpCity, local endogenous development and urban regeneration of small alpine towns

AlpCity, local endogenous development and urban regeneration of small alpine towns

Introduction

AlpCity focuses on local development and urban regeneration of small alpine towns. The network deals with the problem of socio-economic decline, low quality of life and urban environment in alpine towns.

Description

Many small alpine and mountain towns have undergone processes of socio-economic decline. They often have inadequate public and private services, low quality of life, an aged population with limited access to culture and decision-making/participation.

AlpCity aims at promoting common understanding and cultural and political exchange through a large trans-national partnership. A range of activities are organised, namely:

networking to exchange common knowledge and strategies;
collection of local best practices;
dissemination and communication;
guidelines/future scenarios.

AlpCity deals with the crucial problem of the lower socio-economic development, quality of life and urban environment in alpine towns (fewer economic and employment opportunities, insufficient and inadequate public and private services, limited community participation).

Immediate consequences: economic decline, ageing population, abandonment of villages, loss of cultural vitality, building decay. Additional effects: poor decision-making and innovation capacity, lack of financial resources, professional skills, information.

Participants

Regione Piemonte (Italy)
Regione Lombardia (Italy)
Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy)
Regione Veneto (Italy)
Lower Austia Provincial Government (Austria)
Region Franche-Comte (France)
Region Rhone-Alpes (France)
Gemeinde Grainau (Germany)
Haute ecole Valaisanne (Switzerland)
Municipalite de Saint-Maurice (Switzerland)
Gemeinde Tschlin (Switzerland)

Network lead

Regione Piemonte

Objectives

AlpCity considers the before mentioned processes of decline unacceptable for several reasons:

The small local authorities are the most important entities within the Alpines. They are to preserve healthy rural-urban connections.
AlpCity aims to avoid and diminish internal disparity or periphery. Some towns are struggling for survival while neighbouring ones are richer and vital, all within very developed regions.
In line with the European Spatial Development Perspective, a more polycentric urban system should be created.
Only a trans-national approach can help to face the trans-national dimension of the problem. Cooperation between regions, towns, public and private sectors is needed in order to foster common understanding, knowledge, political and cultural awareness at EU, national, regional and local levels.
Existing local best practice and new pilot activities should be promoted and disseminated.

Products

Widespread communication of the project's objectives (general public and target groups) via publications, a website, a purposely-designed exhibition that circulates in different countries and a documentary (diaporama).
AlpCity will actively promote the design and implementation of 15-20 pilot activities at the local level, that will become best practice in local endogenous development and urban development in struggling small alpine communities.
A multilingual database of 20-30 best practice cases throughout the Alps and a report of policy guidance and future scenarios are to be expected.
The establishment of new local and European networks on the project's issues. These networks are to make sure that alpine small towns will be the main beneficiaries of new programmes, actions and technical assistance.

Contact info

AlpCity
Regione Piemonte (Lead partner), tel. +39 011 432 4662/5915

Links

Homepage of the AlpCity network Homepage of the lead partner Regione Piemonte (in Italian)

Document type

network

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Keywords

Competitiveness