With its 12.800 inhabitants, industry, services, beautiful landscapes, and cultural events, Lieksa is a safe town in which to live. Its success is based on industrial exports, small enterprises, tourism, a strong and resourceful educational system, good basic services, expanding municipal and international cooperation, exceptionally beautiful natural landscapes, and the constructive cooperation of skilled people.

The industrial traditions of Lieksa have a history of more than a hundred years. The basis of the export industry is the Pankaboard Oy and Kevätniemi sawmill, which is owned by Vapo Timber Oy. More current export industry includes:

 

-         Anaika Components Ltd Oy   (planed all round, finger-jointed structural timber),

-         Joptek Oy Composites  (composite structures for carrier and construction industries)

-         Suomen Rengastehdas Oy  (bicycle tires, inner tubes for heavy tires)

-        Amcor Flexibles Finland Oy  (production of plastic sheets and flexible packaging)

-        Nokian Kotikenkä Oy (footwear)

-        Pielisen Betoni Oy  (concrete elements)

-         LST-Säiliöt Oy (transport containers for liquids, special fuels)

At the moment, 1.121 people are employed by local industry.

 

Public services in the town of Lieksa are excellent and diverse. The good accessibility of services and friendly welcoming staff compared to those of larger and more active centres deserve particular emphasis. In 2005, Lieksa was chosen from among several other towns to be the site of the national contact centre of The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, KELA.

 

The town has its own health centre, which currently has no shortage of doctors. In addition, private medical and dental services are available in the town.

 

Care for young children is provided by day-care centres and registered childminders. Children can find suitable day care without waiting. Pre-teaching is given both at schools and day-care centres. Morning and evening activities for children are arranged according to demand.

 

Leisure time services are excellent in Lieksa. The renovated and extended swimming pool was re-opened in 2005. The sports centre around the indoor swimming pool includes an ice rink, track and fields facilities, tennis court, football pitches, outdoor swimming pools, and illuminated ski tracks. In addition, there are several jogging tracks, a fitness centre, shooting range, hiking routes, nature routes, and water sports routes in Lieksa.

 

As a cultural town, Lieksa is known primarily for its brass band music. Lieksa Brass Week, a nationally and internationally recognized brass music concert and training event, has been held in Lieksa for over 30 years. There is an exceptionally highly rated music institute in the region where it is taught. The music institute is home to the famous Lieksa Youth Wind Orchestra.

 

Pielinen Museum in Lieksa is the second largest open-air museum in Finland. Paateri, the studio and home of Eva Ryynänen, the late artist and professor, is a well-known and popular tourist attraction. The Ruunaa rapid shooting routes are remembered by many as an unforgettable wilderness experience. The magnificent slopes of Koli - the national scenery of Finland - offer a multifaceted experience to the visitor. In the summer 2006, a Holiday Housing Fair have organized at Koli.

 

The education system in Lieksa is comprehensive. The system includes pre-school, morning and evening activities, primary school, high school, vocational school, additional vocational training for adults and polytechnics. In addition, various training programmes for the unemployed are organized in the region. The supply of Open University courses is wide-ranging. Free popular education includes a diverse and lively adult education centre in Lieksa.

 

The housing situation in Lieksa is good. The towns real estate business Kiinteistö Oy Lieksan Vuokratalot offers rented accommodation at moderate prices. In addition, they offer inexpensive owner-occupied residences in a beautiful natural landscape.

 

Currently, the economy of the town of Lieksa is balanced. The town has set its tax rate at 19.50 %.

 

Lieksa is well-served by road and rail connections. A frequent airport bus connection from Lieksa to Joensuu airport provides good and flexible air connections.

 

Telecommunication connections have recently undergone significant development. In the town area, secure speech and data transfer connections are available. The system is based on the use of fibre optic cables and associated security systems. All productised services provided by operators currently in the market are available in the region of Lieksa.

 

Linkkejä:
www.te-keskus.fi
www.yrityssuomi.fi
www.tekes.fi
www.finpro.fi
www.finnvera.fi
www.investinfinland.fi
  

AVAILABILITY OF WORKFORCE

There is plenty of trained labour available in Lieksa.

In Lieksa, 480 job-seekers fall into the category of "industrial work"; 220 of these are under 45 years of age and 375 under 55 years of age.
Half (1040) of the unemployed job-seekers have secondary education. Approximately 60 % of this group is under 45 years of age.

People from Lieksa are known as hard-working, conscientious, flexible, and trained workers who are able to develop their skills.

 

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