Spiringen
New prospects for mountain regions: the case of Spiringen
Spiringen
A small Alpine community in the Schächental in the canton of Uri, some 900 metres above sea level.
The population of this predominantly farming village is 836 ‒ and has been on the decline for several years now.
The population of this predominantly farming village is 836 ‒ and has been on the decline for several years now.
Tourists come up to Spiringen for its hiking and ski trails and for its vast cableway network.
Shop closure
Shop closure
Last year, the local inhabitants were hit with some bad news: the village's last remaining grocery shop was to close its doors as it was no longer economically viable.
For many, the idea of a village without any shops was simply unthinkable:
Working group
Working group
A working group was set up soon after to sound out local interest in a new village shop.
Sämi Gisler
Electrician
Member of the working group
The household poll by the working group revealed wide support for keeping the village shop open. More than a third of the local inhabitants said they would be happy to buy their weekly groceries there.
Following discussions with a few potential suppliers, the working group opted for Volg, with their Prima partnership model.
Cooperative
Cooperative
However, Volg could not help finance the new shop. So other solutions had to be found.
Shortly after the shop cooperative was founded, over 300 people signed up for at least one share certificate costing CHF 250.
This new venture means villagers can now shop locally again and even access postal services there ‒ but that's only part of the reason for rejoicing. It is hoped now that the cooperative and the new shop will boost the village's overall development and also help Spiringen attract more tourists.
Website municipality Spiringen (german)
This new venture means villagers can now shop locally again and even access postal services there ‒ but that's only part of the reason for rejoicing. It is hoped now that the cooperative and the new shop will boost the village's overall development and also help Spiringen attract more tourists.
Website municipality Spiringen (german)
NRP Support
New Regional Policy (NRP) support
By embedding the new village shop into an overall development concept, the project was eligible to receive CHF 35,000 in co-funding from the federal government's New Regional Policy (NRP), under its pilot measures for mountain regions.
New Regional Policy (NRP)
New Regional Policy (NRP)
David Kramer
Regional and Spatial Planning Policy Section SECO
Construction
Construction
And so the work began.
With a combination of the villagers' share participation, a loan from the Commune of Spiringen, contributions from Swiss Mountain Aid and funding from the NRP pilot measures for mountain regions, the finance needed for the village shop project was finally secured.
With a combination of the villagers' share participation, a loan from the Commune of Spiringen, contributions from Swiss Mountain Aid and funding from the NRP pilot measures for mountain regions, the finance needed for the village shop project was finally secured.
Local companies were contracted for almost all of the work. But the renovations would never have been possible in such a short space of time without all the volunteers.
Opening
Opening
After a month of renovations, the cooperative handed over the shop to the two women managing the business.
A few hours before the big opening, the fresh produce is delivered and stacked.
The new shop is almost twice as big as before and stocks a much wider range of products. And it's open for much longer to meet the villagers' varied needs.
The new shop is almost twice as big as before and stocks a much wider range of products. And it's open for much longer to meet the villagers' varied needs.
Local products
Local products
The
village shop should provide local businesses with an outlet to sell products
such as cheese, honey, herbs and cableway tokens.
Customers
The time has come: the first customers are arriving.
The locals' first impressions of their new shop are encouraging.
The locals' first impressions of their new shop are encouraging.
Perspectives
The opening day was a huge success and the sense of enthusiasm in the village was palpable.
It remains to be seen whether the people here will stick with their local shop over time and whether this new business really can help develop the village as hoped.
It remains to be seen whether the people here will stick with their local shop over time and whether this new business really can help develop the village as hoped.
3 years later
3 years later
Three years after its opening, the village shop has established itself. The range of products has been expanded to around 1600 items, many of which are local products. The operational structure has been adapted, and the cooperative is evaluating various digitization projects. Another highlight: thanks to many new residents, the population of Spiringen has risen to over 900.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The NRP project 'Spiringen village shop' has had an impact and created added value. The success of projects like this has meant that, since 2024, small infrastructure projects have also been eligible for funding under the «normal NRP».
Links
LinksMedia review
Urner Wochenblatt (german)
25. Juli 2020
05. Oktober 2020
10. Oktober 2020
14. November 2020
05. Dezember 2020
30. Januar 2021
SRF Regionaljournal Zentralschweiz
05.April 2021 (4 min. german)
25. Juli 2020
05. Oktober 2020
10. Oktober 2020
14. November 2020
05. Dezember 2020
30. Januar 2021
SRF Regionaljournal Zentralschweiz
05.April 2021 (4 min. german)
Regional- und Raumordnungspolitik
Die Neue Regionalpolitik (NRP) des Bundes ist als wirtschaftsorientierte regionale Strukturpolitik konzipiert. Sie bezweckt, den Strukturwandel im Berggebiet, im weiteren ländlichen Raum und den Grenzregionen zu unterstützen und die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit dieser Räume zu stärken.
(german)
New Regional Policy (NRP)
With the New Regional Policy (NRP) both the federal government and the cantons support mountain and border regions as well as rural areas in coping with changes in economic structures. This includes improving hard and soft locational factors of a region as well as promoting innovation, the creation of value and competitiveness in a sustainable way.
Neue Regionalpolitik (NRP) im Kanton Uri
Für die Umsetzung im Kanton Uri ist die Fachstelle NRP der Volkswirtschaftsdirektion verantwortlich. Sie fördert die Entwicklung von Exportleistungen in den Bereichen Industrie, Gewerbe und Dienstleistungen, Tourismus und natürlichen Ressourcen.
(german)
Bernadette Bissig
Local councillor
Member of the working group:
Simon Gisler
Office employee
Member of the working group
Margrit Imhof-Gasser
Shop manager
Irene Herger
Shop manager
Adrian Imhof
Farmer
Manuela Imhof
Optician
Member of the working group
Margrit Imhof
Shop manager
Silvia Gisler-Bissig
Herb producer
René Müller
President of the Municipal Council
Linda Russi
NRP Tourism project manager
Canton of Uri
Hans Gisler-Rüesch
Honey producer
Thomas Schuler
New resident
Ueli Ramseier
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO Regional Policy Unit
Tokens for cableways
The shop sells tokens for the mountain cableways in Schächental as well as permits for mountain toll roads.
Sämi Gisler
President of the Village Shop Cooperative
Mahara Kempf
Managing Director of the village shop
02 Manuela
Manuela Imhof
Optician
Simon Gisler
Office employee
Member of the working group
02 Bernadette
Bernadette Bissig
Postal worker
Local councillor
Sämi Gisler
Electrician
Member of the working group
02 Rene
René Müller
Zimmermann
02 Simon G
Simon Gisler
Office employee
02 Franz
Franz Imholz
Driving instructor
Part-time journalist
Bernadette Bissig
Local councillor
Member of the working group
Sämi Gisler
Electrician
Member of the working group
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New prospects for mountain regions: the case of Spiringen
