Activities
The Regional Development Council is a politically governed organization and a municipal federation with a regional steering board.
The tasks and activities are defined in the regulation of regional growth tasks (2007:713), in the law of regional co-ordination bodys (2002:34) and in a regulation of association.
The Regional Development Council’s activities encompass five strategic areas: living environment and attractiveness, trade and industry, communications, international cooperation, labor market, education and skills. Furthermore, the Regional Development Council coordinates municipal strategic issues such as social welfare, human resource development (in-service training and conferences) and education (principally issues concerning high school education).
Regional development planning
Development responsibilities of the Regional Development Council include the task of producing and coordinating a strategy for the county’s long-term sustainable development.
The Regional Development Strategy (RUS) serves as a basis for the national government’s planning and initiatives, but also for the region’s decision-makers. The strategic development work of the Regional Development Council emanates from the RUS and it is an important tool in our activities.
The Regional Development Council is also responsible for the overall planning of the county’s transport infrastructure and for coordinating the work with the regional transport plan.
Strategy, coordination and support
Within all areas of activity, the Regional Development Council is responsible for monitoring, analyzing and reacting to developments and changes in the world around us. We coordinate development efforts in the county and we coordinate the interests of our members on mutual issues affecting the county.
The Regional Development Council is also responsible for coordination and advocacy on issues that are important to the county´s local municipalities.
In order to fulfill the goals of the Regional Development Strategy, the Regional Development Council has the ability to provide economic support for programs and individual projects within the strategic development areas. The Regional Development Council also runs its own development projects and provides advice and information to project owners in the county who seek project funding from EU structural funds.
International connections
Since 2009, the Regional Development Council has been a host for a Europe Direct Office. The office is a part of the European Commission network of information and communication offices in the EU.
Invest Region Jönköping is yet another activity within the Regional Development Council with international connections. The office is the regional hub for questions concerning foreign investment and start-ups.