Projects

Tervola Steel Park is located in an excellent location along the main routes of Tervola, between Highway 4 and the railway, making it an attractive business area. However, the growing interest in the area has encountered deficiencies in road infrastructure. The goal of the Tervola Steel Park development project is to improve the area’s traffic arrangements and logistics, increase traffic safety, and reduce environmental impact.

The project improves the road network and transport connections, which supports the competitiveness of local SMEs and tourism companies and enables new businesses to settle on designated plots. The measures also strengthen the region’s road-rail connection and create smooth transport chains for businesses and people traveling in the area. At the same time, the project promotes Tervola’s position in marketing the industrial areas of Meri-Lappi – Steel Park will provide companies with a competitive and logistically excellent option in the future.

The project is funded by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia and is co-financed by the European Union.

Project period: 01/2026 – 06/2027

Financing: The planned budget for the project is €593,776. The share of EU and government funding is €296,888, of which EU funding is €178,133. The remaining self-financing portion of the project is covered by the Municipality of Tervola.

We are supporting the Meijän kylät – Tulevaisuuden tekijät (’Our Villages – Makers of the Future’) project, which is a development project by Peräpohjola Leader. The Ilmastoviisas pohjoinen maaseutu  (’Climate-Smart Northern Countryside’) project aims to increase the knowledge of residents and communities in northern villages about adapting to climate change, as well as about local biodiversity and how to strengthen it.

More information about the project (in Finnish) at Peräpohjolan Leader website

We are supporting the Meijän kylät – Tulevaisuuden tekijät (Makers of the Future) project, which is a development initiative by Peräpohjolan Leader. The aim of the project is to strengthen the vitality, visibility, and sense of community of the villages in a sustainable way.

More information about the project (in Finnish) at Peräpohjolan Leader website

We are supporting the Kestävyysraportointi ja kestävä kehitys liiketoiminnassa (Sustainability Reporting and Sustainable Development in Business) project, which is a development project of Lapland University of Applied Sciences. The goal of the project is to meet the needs of companies and their stakeholders by providing tools that facilitate sustainability reporting and increase awareness of sustainable development and its impact on business.

More information about the project (in Finnish)

The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom has funded a project aimed at creating a snowmobile trail planning guide. This guide addresses the growing need to improve traffic safety on snowmobile trails and to establish a unified operating model for use by municipalities and other stakeholders. The applicant for the project has been the municipality of Salla, and all 21 municipalities in Lapland, the Lapland ELY Centre, and Traffic Safety Finland are involved. The project will run until the end of February 2026.

During the project, the needs of municipalities, trail maintainers, and other stakeholders will be mapped, existing guidelines will be analyzed, and a new comprehensive planning guide will be prepared. The guide is intended to provide clear directions and serve as a significant tool for designing safe snowmobile trails. Overall, the guide aims to reduce snowmobile accidents.

Hankkeen tuloksena laadittava opas on tarkoitus saattaa laajempaan käyttöön Pohjois-Pohjanmaalle ja miksei laajemmallekin. Hanke palvelee myös valtakunnallisen liikenneturvallisuusstrategian päivittämistä motorisoidun maastoliikenteen osalta.

Information about the project and its progress can be found on Traficom’s website (in Finnish) Once the project is completed, the snowmobile trail planning guide will be ready for use by various parties and will be available from those who participated in the project and on Traficom’s website.

The municipality’s contacts for the project are civil engineer/building inspector Johannes Luiro and business coordinator Henri Mattinen.

The project has also been reported in the news in Lapin kansa 31.5.2025

In Tervola, a basic improvement project for the routes and structures of the local sports and recreation area was launched in April 2025. The project is funded by the Uusimaa ELY Centre through the Finland Moves grant program, and the municipality of Tervola is also participating in the funding.

The municipality of Tervola has applied for funding to improve the local sports and recreation area located in the town center. The project’s goal is to repair the base of the Kirkonkylä fitness trail/illuminated ski track route, replace the deckings of the route’s bridges, and create a new winter walking trail. In addition, the project will renovate the shelter along the route, acquire resting benches, and update the area’s signage. These measures will improve the usability and safety of the route and diversify the area’s year-round recreational opportunities and service structures. The total estimated cost of the project is 139,290 euros, of which the grant can cover up to 50 percent.

A total of 2.5 million euros in grants will be awarded to municipalities for the development of local recreational areas as part of the Suomi liikkeelle (Finland on the Move) program. The aim of the grants is to create high-quality and easily accessible local recreational areas and thereby increase movement for all age groups in nearby nature.

In the municipality of Tervola, in the municipal center around the sports field, there is a functional local exercise and recreation area. The area features a central sports field, a lit trail/gravel track, a frisbee golf course, and a covered rink (Kurki Arena). The Tervola local exercise and recreation area project, which started in spring 2024, continues to further develop and diversify the area.

The project will build a dog park located in a local recreational area that serves the residents of Tervola and visitors, as well as a fitness and recreation trail that specifically serves elderly people and their loved ones. The recreation trail runs along the Jurvanoja stream, which flows into the Kemijoki River and is part of the traditional landscape of Tervola.

Park benches, a small jetty, and a teepee for gatherings will be placed along the recreational trail. The recreational trail increases opportunities for residents, especially the elderly and their relatives, to spend leisure time together in an environment where communal events can be organized.

The dog park will have sections for large and small dogs. The dog park enhances opportunities for dog enthusiasts to engage in activities in a safe environment where pet-themed events can be held. The sports field area provides a recreational environment that facilitates easy family exercise, which in the future can also be easily combined with dog-related activities.

The Tervola local sports and recreation area project is supported and funded by Peräpohjola Leader and is co-financed by the European Union.

The Kätkävaara nature trail has been developed by the Municipality of Tervola since the 1980s by creating solutions and structures that make access easier, including an accessible nature trail, shelters, lean-tos, bridges, boardwalks, stairs, etc. Most recently, the Kätkä Caves and Gorges trail, which has received tremendous attention, was created.

In addition, emphasis has been placed on content creation such as signage, information boards, AR media, and an audio piece that can only be listened to along the trail. The development work in the area so far has been mainly funded by Peräpohjolan Leader, and the projects have been co-financed by the EU.

Due to previous development efforts, the popularity and number of users of the trail have skyrocketed, and expanding new parking spaces as well as restroom and service facilities became necessary in 2023, because some visitors had to turn back due to a lack of parking. The nature trail is a free nature service maintained by the municipality of Tervola for all its users.

The Kätkän INFRA project involves the implementation of the parking and rest area for the Kätkävaara nature trail, as well as sanitation and storage facilities. The project contributes to Finland’s strategy for developing domestic nature tourism and improving accessibility (e.g., accessibility for people with disabilities).

A local nature trail reduces, among other things, the climate impact caused by international travel. Physical activity using one’s own strength is environmentally friendly, and a constructed guided trail decreases wear on nature. The accessibility of the Kätkävaara area, located at the center of three cities and close to users, is excellent, and having a nearby destination reduces climate emissions. The nature trail has existed since the 1980s, and its development projects have been able to renovate the existing site and significantly increase its use, while also supporting the use of services by Tervola residents. The now-being-built, easily accessible parking lot improves participation opportunities and increases the use of the area’s accessible route.

The aim of the project is to increase the number of users of the Kätkävaara nature trail by eliminating the lack of parking spaces, which is a bottleneck. As a result, it is expected to become the most popular nature destination in southern Lapland, around which business activities offering nature experiences and accommodation have developed.

The project is implemented and maintained by the municipality of Tervola. The project started in the autumn of 2023 and will continue until the end of 2024.

The Kätkä INFRA project is supported and funded by Peräpohjolan Leader and is co-financed by the European Union.

The Tervola’s Kurkiareena multipurpose platform project involves building a new multipurpose platform at Tervola Kurkiareena to serve the residents of Tervola, local organizations and clubs, as well as multidisciplinary hobby and event activities.

The Kurkiareena was built in 2014 as part of the Tervola Outdoor Sports Facilities Covering Project. The youth of Tervola had already suggested covering the rink/tennis court in 2012 and collected 265 signatures to support their proposal. The young people also initiated private fundraising, aiming to raise €50,000 in private funds for the project. The fundraising goal was achieved, carried out by Tervola Parish Work Support Association. The covered space built through the project has served various hobby and sports groups in both winter and summer. In addition to tennis in the summer, the hall has been used for street hockey, basketball, and badminton. In the winter, the space has allowed for rinkball and ice hockey, as well as other ice sports. Schools have used the space on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Time slots have been reserved by workplaces, the parish, sports and hobby groups, and families. There have been 6–10 regular reservers, with an average of 10–20 users in the groups. Additionally, time slots have been reserved specifically for elementary school, middle school, and high school students. In addition, there are reserved sessions for lower primary school children, middle and high school students, and families. Use is free of charge.

Kurkiareena is located in the vicinity of the sports field in the Tervola municipal center, in a local exercise and recreation area. The area also includes, among other things, a central sports field, a ski trail, a disc golf course, a running track, and a future dog park. The area is situated in a beautiful environment, in the municipal center, close to services, and is easily accessible.

Improving the arena’s surface changes and expands the possibilities for using the arena and the entire local sports area, for example, for organizing events. The surface increases opportunities for residents, hobby and sports clubs, groups, and other organizations to expand their range of activities and provides the possibility to hold weather-independent public events in a safe environment throughout the year.

Residents have hoped for a space in Tervola that would allow for new hobbies and various types of events to be held regardless of the weather. Tervola does not have a hall that residents and organizations can use for events and public gatherings. The nearest similar arenas are located in Kemi, Tornio, and Rovaniemi.

The project was prepared by the municipality of Tervola and Tervola’s business company by mapping the needs of various hobby groups and events, the possibilities of multi-purpose platforms, and the required establishment measures. At the same time, similar hall platforms built in other municipalities were surveyed. The hall’s previous floor was asphalted and prone to frost heaving, making it unsuitable for all activities. The surface material of the new floor is artificial turf.

The project will expand the usage opportunities of the local sports and recreational area. It will further improve the area’s comfort and usability and level the playing field for engaging in sports and organizing events, as well as participation opportunities in Tervola. Events and new recreational opportunities can be brought closer to the residents and village communities.

The project also increases Tervola’s appeal and attractiveness as an active place to live and work. It is particularly suitable for encouraging young people to continue participating in the development of their home area and to ensure the continuity of village activities (the original Kate project was initiated by young people).

The project is implemented and maintained by the municipality of Tervola. The project will be carried out during 2024.

The Tervola Kurkiareenan multi-purpose platform project is entirely funded by the Municipality of Tervola.

The municipality of Tervola is also involved in another major project, as in 2023 the Lapland-Asia wellbeing tourism development project will begin, with more information to come later once the project has started.

The project has received funding from the Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland, and Tervola municipality is also participating in the funding.

Public description

The project will create an operating model that can be used in the future to productize and package Lapland’s wellness and tourism services for the Asian (primarily Japanese) market.

Background and need

In Tervola (and nearby municipalities), there are many different welfare and tourism service providers who could benefit from a new target group. In Japan, there would be a ready target group for wellness tourism, as well as people to implement this.

Accessing services is currently difficult for Asians, so by combining the region’s services into a package that can be purchased online, accessing them becomes easy and effortless for the target group.

During the project, a brand will be created for this package, which will increase the region’s visibility and thereby enable greater interest from Asians in the local wellness sector and tourism.

Objectives

The goal is to develop regional service production in Lapland, targeting Asians as the main audience. Specifically, the aim is to identify and enable easily accessible wellness tourism packages, which would include various therapy treatments, experiences of local life, and accommodation in small local lodging businesses. The objective is that the first pilot group of Japanese visitors would arrive in Tervola during the summer.

If successful, the project would improve employment and extend the season.

The project aims to develop a cooperation network in the wellness and tourism sector.

Plan

The project will begin by mapping local companies. All willing companies will be examined more closely, and together with the company representatives, the specific needs of each will be determined. Based on this assessment, a joint training session will be organized for all companies, with the goal of the project’s outcome: a service package targeted at Asians and a ready-made collaboration network.

At the end of the project in autumn 2023, the results will be tested with a Japanese pilot group. The members of the pilot group will test the travel package on site and report on the results and development suggestions.

Implementers

The project has received funding from the Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland, and the municipality of Tervola is also participating in the funding.

The project work in Finland is coordinated by project worker Reetta Davidila, and in Japan, the expert Tomomi Hisasue is involved. A separate project working group also supports the project.

Ilmastoviisas Meri-Lappi (The Climate-Smart Meri-Lappi) project aims to accelerate the green transition. The project supports practical actions by the region’s municipalities, businesses, and residents to advance this goal.

Read more about the project in Finnish in project website

The Kätkävaara development project, which began in 2021, will continue in 2023. In recent years, the trails and campfire sites at Kätkävaara have been renovated, and an accessible route has also been added. In addition, the construction of the Gorges and Caves trail network, which began in 2022, is almost complete and will be opened to tourists in the summer of 2023.

Explore Kätkävaara here

The Westside feasibility study and master plan project, launched in February 2020, has developed an attractive living and activity environment in Tervola, on the opposite bank of the municipal center, along the Kemijoki riverfront.

• Project implementation period: 1 July 2019 – 30 June 2021
• Funder and main source of funding: Lapin liitto, Euroopan aluekehitysrahasto (EAKR)
• Granted funding: The funding granted by the Lapin liitto, Euroopan aluekehitysrahasto (EAKR is €172,896, and the beneficiary’s own contribution is €43,224. The total funding amounts to €216,120.

Westside Tervola is an undeveloped waterfront area located in the municipality of Tervola, on the opposite bank of the town center, along the Kemijoki River, partially owned by the municipality of Tervola. The area covers 73 hectares. The municipality of Tervola aims to develop the area into an attractive residential, business, and tourism area that takes advantage of the nature of the Kemijoki River as well as carbon-neutral living and construction. The primary goal is to increase Tervola’s population by attracting new residents. The construction goal is to create an energy self-sufficient and partly food-producing residential and tourism area.

A master plan has been prepared for the area as a basis for detailed zoning as well as land use and construction. The plan examines, among other things, the production possibilities of different energy forms within the planning area. In addition, a feasibility study will be carried out for the area, which investigates the feasibility of the project and focuses on the opportunities for providing remote workspaces and tourism services in the area. Alongside the area planning and feasibility study, the planning and implementation of a communication program will be initiated simultaneously.

As a result of the project, a report has been prepared for Tervola, which can be used to create plans for establishing a new residential and tourism area. In addition, the outcome includes the implementation of a communication program and a plan.

• You can learn more about the project’s actions and content by reviewing the project description in Finnish
• You can familiarize yourself with the Vastaranta master plan in the article on the municipality’s website (in Finnish)
• As part of the project, 360-degree images of the area have also been made. Explore 360 images.

The municipality of Tervola often also manages inter-municipal development projects. An example of such projects is the ’Fiber to Western and Southern Lapland’ broadband project, which was launched in 2012. Its target group includes the residents, entrepreneurs, and leisure-time residents of Pello, Ylitornio, Tervola, Tornio, Rovaniemi, Keminmaa, Posio, Simo, and Ranua. The project concluded in 2014.

Nature activities have been promoted in Tervola through several projects. For example, as a result of the Accessible Kätkä project, which ended in 2013, there is a section of the Kätkävaara nature trail in Tervola that allows for barrier-free movement. Along the trail, there are also accessible picnic and fishing spots. A nature tower is being built at the top of Kätkävaara as part of the project.

The Teema – Tervolalaisia matkailuelämyksiä project, which develops the tourism experience industry, has been developing tourism in Tervola since 2009. The project ended in the spring of 2013. As a result of the project, Tervola has acquired, among other things, high-quality signage, marketing materials, and expertise.