A better Billund for Billund’s citizens and businesses
Billund for the Citizens of Billund
I will work to create growth in the city of Billund and for the city to become an engine of growth that benefits everyone in the entire municipality. I will work to ensure that our large companies commit themselves more to creating a fantastic city for the citizens – that they take responsibility and contribute even more, and that they help develop the city so that it is attractive. Not only for their employees, but for all citizens of Billund.
We are also privileged to have a completely unique situation with many amusement parks, and I also want these parks to contribute by giving more benefits to the city’s citizens, for example by offering attractive advantages in their parks. That way, we can all pull in the same direction and create better conditions for Billund’s citizens. This includes fighting for a significant upgrade of our schools and leisure facilities. Something really needs to happen so we can be proud of what we offer – and so we can truly call ourselves the Capital of Children.
A Better City for Our International Citizens
I will work to integrate and involve our international citizens much more and be their voice in the municipality and in the media. We can create a much more dynamic city if our international citizens take a larger part in cultural and leisure life – both as users and as volunteers. Besides being a huge gain for the city, it will also mean that international citizens feel much more that they belong – that they build networks, contribute, and have more social experiences.
There is also huge potential in helping international citizens find jobs on their own terms. Those who “move with” represent a great resource that we are not good enough at utilizing. And those of our international citizens who want to work and contribute to the job market – but on terms that fit their everyday life – we must open up much more to them. To give businesses an overview of what competences are available and what opportunities exist, I will work to develop a digital solution where companies can book international employees for jobs or projects. A job exchange for international citizens.
Optimal Conditions for Business
I want to be the voice of business in the city council. Throughout my adult life, I have worked as a business leader, and I am driven by creating development and results. To do this, the basic factors must be in place. So, it is natural for me to work to create the best conditions for the city’s companies. This includes infrastructure, good conditions for growth, and listening to what businesses need. I want to lead a growth agenda in Billund, and therefore it is crucial to involve the business community, listen to their needs, and on that basis develop the best conditions for our companies to achieve their goals. In other words, I will be the business community’s representative in the city council if I am elected in November.
Better Opportunities for Our Children and Young People – Including Better Schools and Leisure Facilities
Most people will probably agree with me that our schools and leisure facilities are in urgent need of a significant upgrade to make it attractive for our children and young people to attend the municipality’s schools. We must modernize the physical facilities so our schools are up-to-date, and we must give our teachers the best conditions to create attractive learning environments. The same goes for sports, leisure, and culture – there must be many more opportunities for our children and young people. Exciting opportunities that other cities will envy. And opportunities that are for all of Billund’s children and young people. In other words, we must ensure that our children and young people raise their arms in joy every day because they live in the Capital of Children.
Growth in Billund
Growth creates opportunities – and in Billund we have a unique foundation to create growth. We have large companies doing a fantastic job, and we have an airport with an ambitious plan that I fully support. But we can do more and do it better. We are already one of the cities that attract many tourists, so let’s take advantage of that and bring even more attractions to the city so we can attract even more visitors and create an even better economy and more benefits for our citizens. And let’s become much better at telling about what we can offer tourists – better branding of Billund so that more people will choose us instead of Disneyland Paris or other places. We can compete with anyone if we want to, and I am convinced that we can attract more parks if we can demonstrate that we can brand Billund in a way that brings in tourists. For what amusement park would not want to be located in a city where customers come almost automatically?
Now you might think… but more tourists won’t be good for the city’s residents. “Maybe it’s good for the city’s economy, but not for us residents who get overrun by tourists,” you might rightly consider. But this is precisely where I will work to ensure that the growth we create means two things for the citizens:
- The large companies, including the parks, must take responsibility for the city’s development for the citizens. Not only for tourists or their employees – but for those who live in Billund. That means urban development with citizens’ needs at the center, more exciting shops, more leisure facilities, more varied culture – and overall, making Billund a better place to live.
- The amusement parks must offer benefits for Billund’s citizens – it must be noticeable that you live in a city with fantastic attractions.
Our Large Companies Must Take Responsibility for the City
We are lucky in Billund because we have some truly unique large companies – very large indeed. But these companies are also located in a small city where, by definition, they take up a lot of space. And that can be very good if the companies take responsibility for the city and do not close themselves off to only their employees and customers. I will work to ensure that the city’s large companies take responsibility for creating a city that residents are proud to live in. This applies both to contributing financially to the city’s development and to opening up for the local population instead of focusing only on their own employees. Our companies are doing fantastic initiatives, but in several cases only for their own staff. I believe this is the wrong path for the city – as it can mean that the city’s offerings face “non-resident-friendly” competition from the large companies, which in some areas benefits the company but harms the city as a whole. Of course, it must work for both the companies and the citizens, but I will work to ensure that companies open up to residents and contribute to the favorable development of the city – for the citizens.
Tourism Beacon
We have a strong starting point in tourism. We have unique amusement parks that give many tourists great experiences every day, and we have an airport with exciting future plans that I fully support. But we can do even more, and part of the growth I want for Billund must come through more amusement parks. We have the opportunity to make Billund something truly special – not just in Denmark, but in Europe, or even the world. In this way, we can attract even more visitors, creating an even better economy for the city. And with my plan for the attractions to contribute to making Billund better for the citizens as well, this growth will be a benefit for all of us. And already now, we must be much better at promoting the fantastic opportunities we offer tourists – we must be much better at branding ourselves as a tourist city that offers much more than Legoland. We have some great opportunities, and I will fight to ensure we make the most of them.