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project info
Start date: 1 April 2024
End date: 31 March 2027
funding
Fund: European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
Total budget: 862 697,43 €
EU contribution: 820 397,44 € (95%)
programme
Programming period: 2021-2027
European Commission Topic
European Commission Topic

DC Farming

In Boden, like Norrbotten as a whole, the need for labour is great in the coming years. The large establishments that take place in Norrbotten and Västerbotten today create many jobs, but not mainly for those who are actually unemployed. On the contrary, it is a target group that is easily forgotten in the hype surrounding the large establishments and the skills supply needs that the establishments generate. Here, work-integrated social enterprises (ASFs) can play an important role for the target group by offering a start-up and an entry ticket to the labour market. Well used, ASF can give people the start they need to become part of the workforce again. An ASF has work integration as its main objective. Getting people into employment is the most important thing. The company's business is the tool to accomplish this. In order to call themselves ASF, the company must be democratically structured and most ASFs are cooperatives. Any profits shall be reinvested in the company, or in similar activities, to create additional employment opportunities. The project will create conditions for a new industry to emerge, where work-integrated social enterprises, in collaboration with data centers and technology companies, contribute to Sweden's food production by utilizing excess heat from data centers. If the local food is to be grown with the workforce that is already in demand on the labour market, the new industrial establishments will find it even more difficult to find labour or cannibalise on essential functions such as care for the elderly. Therefore, it is important that this new industry is allowed to emerge with a different workforce in focus and adapted to those conditions. We want to do this together with a strong partnership of organisations from several sectors and together with the target group of the ASF who will be involved in all work packages based on their own abilities. The sub-objectives of the project are to: 1. Create a concept for data center heated greenhouses where ASF can grow. 2. Educate 40 people in running ASF in cultivation. 3. Have a working method for the work-integrated assignment 4. Create structures for collaboration between public actors and ASF that can serve as examples for other municipalities and ASF 5. Develop more job integration opportunities (tasks) for ASF that contribute to a more circular society. 6. Spread knowledge about the concept of data center heated greenhouses where ASF can grow (DC Farmers). 7. Through transnational activity, it is inspired and learnt from other organisations that grow in greenhouses in the northern parts of Europe.

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