Business development in Lolland-Falster shows good rates. The construction of the Fehmarn connection and a new Storstrømsbro is at full speed. A gas pipeline is being established and commercial land is being sold, and massive investments are underway in renewable energy and green conversion.
These were some of the conclusions when the business development organization Business Lolland-Falster held a general meeting in Lalandia Bio on Wednesday.
Investments for DKK 15 billion
– When we look at 2022 and the period up to then, there have been total investments in Lolland-Falster of more than DKK 15 billion. We have completed more than 1,000 advisory courses with local companies. More than 70 companies have established themselves in the area. We have helped establish more than 300 new CVR numbers, said Mikkel Wesselhoff, director of Business Lolland-Falster.
Swiss capital funds
2022 was also a year in which tourism broke a record with more overnight stays than ever before on Lolland-Falster. With Hage’s Badehotel and plans to develop Lolland’s south coast into a tourist magnet with more hotels, there is the potential for that record to be surpassed in the future.
– In 2011, we worked with investments in Lolland-Falster for eight million kroner. Today, it is billion-dollar investments and Swiss capital funds that manage American pension funds that we work with. So we have moved up a few leagues since then, said Mikkel Wesselhoff.
Visible in the landscape
And the investments are not just empty talk.
– The construction of the Fehmarn tunnel, the Storstrøms bridge and the future gas pipeline are visible in the landscape. It’s not something we just talk about. It is development, potential and growth that is unfolding physically right now. As infrastructure improves, mobility increases. And thus new opportunities are created, said Mikkel Wesselhoff.
Advises companies and sells business premises
Business Lolland-Falster is a public-private collaboration between the business community in Lolland-Falster and Lolland and Guldborgsund Municipalities. Each municipality spits eight million kroner into Business Lolland-Falster per year and in addition four million kroner each into the subsidiary Visit Lolland-Falster.
The money goes to provide business services, advice and consulting services to local companies and attract investment to the region and sell business land in, among other things, Maribo Erhvervspark and Business Park Falster.
New course offers
– The local companies use us like never before. We have launched new course offerings, where we have had more than 600 participants during the first months of the year. And more than 200 local companies have used our advisory services, said Mikkel Wesselhoff.
As something new, Business Lolland-Falster also has a new offer called Business Days in collaboration with the municipalities. Every 14 days, companies can get free initial sparring and advice from the authorities.
– Among other things, this is advice in the field of engineering and the environment, which is something that many construction companies have requested. You also have the opportunity to meet a consultant from the Jobcentre to hear about the opportunities for labour, said Mikkel Wesselhoff.
Have started making money on the top line
In addition to the operating subsidy from the municipalities, Business Lolland-Falster has had an own turnover of approximately DKK 12 million, which comes from, among other things, various consultancy services and membership dues from the more than 450 member companies.
This gives a total turnover of DKK 36.6 million in the annual accounts for the foundation Business Lolland-Falster. The bottom line, however, shows a small minus of DKK 373,578.
– The deficit is due to the fact that, in connection with entering into a new partnership agreement with the municipalities, we had to adjust the staff in relation to the employees’ skills and resources. We chose to do that last year, and therefore the result is negatively affected in 2022, explained Mikkel Wesselhoff.
FACTS
The business development organization Business Lolland-Falster is organized as a foundation and an association respectively. There is a board of directors in both and a board of representatives.
The destination company Visit Lolland-Falster is under Business Lolland-Falster and has the same board chairman and director.
The financing comes from operating grants from Lolland and Guldborgsund Municipalities as well as quota payments.
There are currently approximately 450 members.
The current partnership agreement with the municipalities runs from 2023-2026.
