The Seinäjoki City Council has approved the city’s new strategy for 2026–2033. The strategy aims to strengthen Seinäjoki’s position as a leading business city, make everyday life smoother for residents, and safeguard the city’s services and financial sustainability for the future. The strategy’s vision is to become the world’s most encouraging city for businesses.
–The world’s most encouraging city for businesses is a place where there is room for ideas, discussion and differing opinions, but where decisions are made and things move forward. We know how to come together when needed, work towards common goals and show the rest of the world what Seinäjoki can achieve, says City Manager Jaakko Kiiskilä.
–Throughout the participation process, entrepreneurship emerged as both a key priority and one of Seinäjoki’s greatest strengths. We did not want to settle for standing still. Instead, we set ourselves an even more ambitious goal, which is now reflected in the strategy’s vision, he adds.
Growth for businesses, smoother everyday life for residents
The strategy is built around four key themes: entrepreneurship, growth, wellbeing and education, and a skilled workforce supported by healthy public finances.
Seinäjoki aims to further strengthen its position as Finland’s food capital, a hub for modern industry, and a leading environment for business-driven research, development and innovation.
For residents, the strategy will be reflected in safe and supportive environments for children and young people, improved opportunities for recreation and leisure, and better access to services. The city will also invest in affordable housing, local sports facilities and the attractiveness of the city centre.
Strategy prepared through broad cooperation
The strategy renewal process began in early 2025. Throughout the process, the city gathered input from residents, staff, elected officials, entrepreneurs, the Youth Council and other stakeholders. A total of 2,287 people participated in the resident survey, while the staff survey received 305 responses.
The feedback highlighted several priorities: strengthening entrepreneurship, developing the city centre, increasing attractiveness, ensuring a safe everyday environment, promoting equal learning opportunities, and supporting the integration and employment of immigrants. These priorities are now reflected in the approved strategy.
The strategy also emphasises responsible financial management as a prerequisite for sustainable growth. The city aims to maintain a strong financial position by keeping operating expenditure growth under control and aligning investments with its funding capacity.
At the same time, productivity and efficiency will be improved through the use of digitalisation, data-driven management and artificial intelligence.
Implementation begins immediately
The strategy will guide the city’s operations and financial planning throughout 2026–2033. Its objectives will be translated into annual budgets and incorporated into the operational goals of city departments.
Progress towards the strategy will be monitored through performance indicators that will be publicly available on the city’s website via a Power BI reporting platform. The city will publish an annual monitoring report and, where necessary, update the strategy during the strategy period.
– Modern tools allow us to make progress towards the strategy more transparent than ever before. We are also prepared to update the strategy as circumstances evolve and new opportunities emerge, says City Manager Jaakko Kiiskilä.