Good Practice Category: Governance

Community development using the example of the Luthern community" is the attempt of making the residents conscious of the strengths of their own community, such as: the intact landscape, the abundant resources of water and wood, the charming village center and the pilgrimage site of Luthern Bad. With a two-day future conference, all interest groups were involved in the development. This promoted credibility and transparency, brought many good ideas, some of which were also implemented.The municipality of Luthern is in a special peripheral location, at the “end” of the canton of Lucerne. The central (in the heart of Switzerland), but remote (in a dead end) community suffered from emigration and deficient community finances. As a result, no more investments were made in the village infrastructure.Also important for the success of the community development was the fact that everyone interested could participate in the various sub-projects. The projects were jointly planned and implemented in several working groups. Only the ideas that were actually supported and promoted by individuals, companies or organizations were pursued.The most important, implemented impulses for Luthern:• The creation of the brand “Naturally LUTHERTAL”• The creation of the playground "sheep with the wolves"• Signposted snowshoe tours from / to Luthern Bad• New barbecues-places• Running courses for groups• The creation of the first Central Swiss Nordic Fitness Trail• The launch of a national project in the field of spiritual tourism (pilgrims, places of strength)• Introduction of the Luthertal Active Day• Map for e-bike tours around Luthern• First year-round yurt village• Digitization of the audio picture show "Luthern - Dorf am Napf"• Development of the Luthern tourism concept• Creation of new circular hiking trails in the Luthertal• Awarding of the "Natural Engagement LUTHERTAL"• Permanent solution for the continuation of the efforts

The municipality of Pontresina has decided to take part in the participation process developed by the Swiss Association for Mountain Regions (SAB) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs as part of the Smart Villages NRP pilot programme.

Echo des Falaises is a local Online collaborative platform that functions aims at facilitate the networking of local organizations and inhabitants, the scale-up of individual or collective initiatives that meet this Smart Village needs for engaging ecological, social and digital transitions.

a mobile citizen service app

helping the municipalities and other stakeholders to create a digital vision and digital keyprojects in the Pitztal

In order to simplify existing administrative processes for the citizens and the city, the Mayor of Tengen, Marian Schreier, organized a citizens' workshop in which the process of digital garbage can management was discussed. Until now, citizens had to personally visit the office to order, change or cancel the garbage cans. In the future, this process can be carried out online and conveniently from the PC at home.