Rural Enthusiast of the Year in Sörmland 2019

On 4 October, Jan Persson, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Kilenkrysset AB, received the award Rural Champion of the Year in Sörmland 2019.

The jury's citation:

“This year's champion is a true entrepreneur to his fingertips. He has run several companies, of which Kilenkrysset is the one best known across most of Sörmland: a construction and property company that is active in most of the county's municipalities and that, in difficult situations, has got new establishments and renewal under way in both the business market and housing construction. His network of contacts and his building projects have created many jobs across the whole county.

But it is as a rural resident that he has taken on great responsibility where public resources have fallen short. He bought the school on Fogdön when it was threatened with closure, renovated it and donated it to the newly formed independent school Vårfruberga. In autumn 2019 the school reopened with more pupils than before. He has also built sheltered housing for older people, helped the local parish with housing, built new homes so that more people can live in the countryside, and helped the sports club with a new clubhouse.

With his strong commitment to his home district, he has had the courage and the will to make things easier in different ways, or to go against the prevailing direction, and has made possible things that few would have believed possible. This year's champion is always quick, is a first-rate problem solver and is a role model of a kind that is relatively rare in Sweden. To share his success for the benefit of the local community's development is a great thing!
With his strong commitment to his home district, he has had the courage and the will to do things that few believed possible. As a first-rate problem solver who is quick to act, this year's champion is a role model of a kind that is rare in Sweden.

We congratulate Jan Persson on the award Rural Champion of the Year in Sörmland 2019.”
– The Board of Hela Sverige ska leva Sörmland