Skellefteå Takes Next Step Towards City Center of the Year 2026 with Quality Certification

Skellefteå’s city center collaboration has now been certified with Quality Mark (QM) – a quality certification that confirms a long-term and strategic approach towards set goals and a shared vision. This certification, issued by Svenska Stadskärnor, represents a crucial milestone and a prerequisite for applying for City Center of the Year, an award Skellefteå plans to pursue in 2026.

Strategic Collaboration and Recognition

“We are both happy and proud to have received Quality Mark for our collaboration work. It is a quality stamp that demonstrates effective cooperation between the city center’s different actors,” says Maria Rautio, center manager at Visit Skellefteå.

The collaboration between private, public, and non-profit actors in the city center has deepened and developed in recent years – first through the BID process and now through Quality Mark, which confirms the high-level cooperation.

Collaborative Achievements

Some of the implemented initiatives include:

• Kulturnatta (Cultural Night)
• New lighting along Nygatan
• Graffiti removal
• Våryra (Spring Celebration)
• Sportlovskul at Guldtorget

“Now we think collaboration in everything we do and get even more out of our shared resources, which makes the work both more fun and more efficient,” says Mikael Lindholm, Department Head for Streets and Parks at Skellefteå Municipality.

Future Development: Collaboration Million

In 2025 and 2026, collaboration will be further strengthened through the “Collaboration Million” initiative, where property owners and Skellefteå Municipality will each invest 1 million Swedish kronor in city center development.

“We want to create a more vibrant, attractive, and inclusive city center for residents, visitors, and investors all year round,” says Julia Åshjelm, Commercial Manager at Nordvestor Fastigheter. “Our goal is for Skellefteå to become City Center of the Year in 2026.”

About Quality Mark

Quality Mark is a standardized certification for collaboration organizations in city centers, based on a European certification developed through TOCEMA Europe. It demonstrates that a city center works long-term, strategically, has clear goals, and follows up results.

Original source: Mynewsdesk Press Release