Westliche Börde, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
In 2010, the municipalities of Ausleben and Am Großen Bruch, along with the town municipalities of Gröningen and Kroppenstedt in the Börde district, joined together to form the “Westliche Börde“ municipal association. The impetus for this necessary step was the closure of a secondary school in Gröningen, which threatened the central provision role regarding secondary education and exacerbated the demographic downward spiral in the area. The primary goal was to achieve a reversal of this development within the association. Effective strategies included the efficient consolidation of administrative forces, optimal use of all shared resources, talents, and synergies, and the active involvement of the existing associations in the four municipalities.
Primary joint action fields for a sustainable future perspective included strengthening families through high-quality childcare, establishing a broad educational offering with possible secondary and vocational qualifications, and promoting measures to build and expand a sustainable regional economic area. Sustainability was emphasized in all implementation steps to improve childcare and educational offerings and to enhance the attractiveness as a workplace and business location. Mostly, existing old buildings were professionally revitalized, in some cases with a pilot character, and available vacancies were efficiently and cleverly adapted for new contemporary and innovative functions, creating a special incentive for new residents.
Examples of pilot projects include the two revitalizations for childcare purposes: the “Kita Schloß Trautenburg“ in Ottleben and the “Kita Edelhof“ in the center of Gröningen. Other outstanding projects that facilitate staying in the municipal association and generate immigration include the establishment of the “Börde Campus“ in Gröningen, in collaboration with a non-profit educational provider, to offer preferred training options, and the “Co-Working and Start-Up Center FREIRAUM“ in Kroppenstedt, which addresses economic needs in a highly innovative way.
The two daycare projects in the Western Börde have a few things in common: they support families, create quality of life and attractiveness, revitalize historic architectural gems, and unfold a strong identity-forming effect.
The “Kita Schloss Trautenburg” in Ottleben, a daycare center housed in a listed castle and operated by the Diakonie since 1996, was structurally transformed from 2018 onwards through a state funding program. The result of this revitalization is a true masterpiece. In addition to the now contemporary standard equipment, the 90 children cared for can now enjoy a new interactive kitchen, a children‘s library, a research and experimentation room, their own music corner, and a functional movement room. Additionally, in the park area of the castle complex, attractive age-appropriate playgrounds have been created.
Similarly remarkable is the “Kita Edelhof” project. In the center of the city of Gröningen, part of a former manor house from the 17th century, which had been left to decay for many years, was revitalized in a resource-conserving manner and in fruitful cooperation with the monument protection office for the operation of a daycare center. 45 children can now enjoy a bright, colorful, and multifaceted daycare facility, which also offers a generously designed outdoor play area that is open to all children.
The “Börde Campus” in Gröningen represents a strategically oriented long-term educational project that has really gained momentum in the last decade and shines beyond the borders of the Western Börde association. In collaboration with an internationally operating educational institution, a vocational school center was completed, a new secondary school for 200 students was opened, and finally, in 2016, a high school with a focus on economics and computer science was established as another offering for the region. A deconsecrated churchnearby was recently purchased to establish a contemporary event center for the still-growing campus.
The municipally operated “Coworking and Founders‘ Center FREIRAUM“ in the town of Kroppenstedt was established on the upper floor of the former secondary school as a place for digital work environments, the implementation of new ideas, development. It also houses a creative collective. An architecturally exciting entrance facing the public space acts as a visible sign of change and innovation while simultaneously promoting the use of the professional and comfortable working conditions on the newly renovated upper floor. Stable internet, modern technical equipment and furnishings at moderate rates are a trump, same as inspiring encounters and a creative atmosphere. FREIRAUM is devoted to the spirit of digitalization instead of vacancy.
Evaluated: 2024
