County of Harburg Promotes Local Economy with Business Day and Village Retail Innovation

The Landkreis Harburg is set to showcase its economic vitality through the upcoming "Tag der Wirtschaft" (Day of Business) on June 26. Organized by the municipal economic development department, this event will provide public access to 17 diverse local companies spanning sectors from marine technology to healthcare. Morning tours will cater to school students to inspire career possibilities, while the afternoon sessions open to the general public will include 90-minute guided tours allowing visitors to engage directly with employees and explore work processes. Landrat Rainer Rempe emphasized the region’s economic strength, highlighting a 27% job growth with over 15,000 new positions created since 2015. Registration is required by June 19 to participate.

Alongside these initiatives, innovative retail concepts like the "Tante Enso" stores support rural economic development in the region and beyond. Launched in Lower Saxony in 2019 by the Bremen-based company Enso, these community-focused stores combine traditional village shop experiences with modern retail technology. Targeting small populations between 1,000 to 3,000 residents, Tante-Enso offers around 3,000 products including locally sourced "Local Heroes" like regional meats and honey. The stores operate 24/7 with limited staffed hours supplemented by customer card access outside opening times, fostering continuous availability.

Such village stores also serve as community hubs, as demonstrated in the Glasau-Sarau village where a Tante-Enso store combined with a café forms part of Schleswig-Holstein’s "Markttreff" initiative to enhance rural infrastructure. Bernd Horstmann, deputy mayor of Glasau-Sarau, noted the importance of these centers in creating spaces for social interaction and practical community services. These efforts collectively strengthen local economic resilience and community involvement in Landkreis Harburg and surrounding rural areas.