Bodø municipality's initiative to attract students with cash gifts has resulted in only 14 out of nearly 90 applicants receiving scholarships, according to Aftenposten. The municipality offers 6000 kroner to students who report moving to Bodø. When the deadline expired on January 30, nearly 90 applications were received, with 70 students reporting moves, but only 14 met requirements.
This is two more than the previous round's 12 recipients, giving the municipality a profit of 330,000 kroner. Several unsuccessful applicants can reapply between August 15 and October 15 if still students in Bodø. The goal is to attract 500 students, but it is unknown if this target is on track.
Meanwhile, Nordland faces economic strain, with laid-off workers increasing from 260 at end of 2025 to 530 in February, according to Nav figures. Most layoffs are in industry, with 268 laid off, mainly in fishing due to raw material shortages. Nordlaks recently laid off over a hundred employees in Vesterålen.
That Vestre will not even meet us and have a dialogue with us, in such a contentious issue, is incomprehensible. It is an issue that creates insecurity in an entire county, and it testifies to arrogance, both from him and from the rest of the Labor Party nationally.
Nav reports just over 2000 completely unemployed in Nordland at end of February. In a separate issue, Health and Care Minister Jan Christian Vestre will not meet Nordland politicians to discuss 24/7 heart treatment in Bodø, with the reason unknown. m.
m. The county municipality is fighting for 24/7 service and believes the minister is dangerously close to arrogance. Marianne Dobak Kvensjø, county council leader, said, 'That Vestre will not even meet us and have a dialogue with us, in such a contentious issue, is incomprehensible.
' In a letter, Vestre rejects that a parliamentary decision requires 24/7 service and emphasizes understanding of engagement. Elsewhere, Hamarøy municipality is set for a 16 million kroner deficit in 2025 due to unbudgeted overspending on maintenance of old buildings, according to municipal director Odd-Børge Pedersen.