Leevi Pursiainen is an entrepreneur in three Vihti companies: Laatumetalli Oy is a steel structure machine shop, Rakennusleevi Oy is a construction company and Vihdin Kuumasinkitys Oy is a surface treatment business. So, Leevi really knows what he's talking about when it comes to entrepreneurship in Vihti.
"It all started when in 1988 I bought a company operating in Vihti, Laatumetalli, and found a suitable industrial site for it here. Since then, other expansions and constructions have been based on building land and very flexible building permit and town planning services," says Pursiainen.
In 2015, a major expansion became necessary. Even then, a suitable location was found in Vihti, and the planning services worked smoothly. Pursiainen says that if the planning and building services are not efficient and flexible, companies will easily look for alternatives in other municipalities.
"It is important that the municipality has enough industrial land in local planning and enough raw land for planning purposes. Vihdi currently has industrial land available, and the municipality is moving in the right direction."
Pursiainen considers Vihti's logistical location to be good: highways 1 and 2 pass through the municipality, as does the Hanko-Hyvinkää road, which provides easy access to highways 3 and 4. Of course, it depends on the company's needs as to which roads it needs and uses.
A pro-business climate in decision-making
According to Leevi Pursiainen, Vihti municipality's decision-making is pro-business and solutions are sought from the entrepreneur's point of view. You can hear about the municipality's service mindedness and speed from word of mouth, which is why it's also important this good reputation is being kept. Building congtrol is also running smoothly and is now receiving positive feedback from businesses in Vihti.
Pursiainen, who has been chairman of the Vihti Entrepreneurs' Association since 2006, says that cooperation between the municipality and the association has long been at a commendable level, and the municipality's interest in entrepreneurs has grown steadily. He hopes that cooperation will remain close in the future.
Pursiainen, who has lived in Vihti for a long time, says it is a very good place to live. He jokingly adds that Vihti is within walking distance of Helsinki, as he has often walked to Helsinki with his wife. On the other hand, nowadays, even if you work remotely, you don't necessarily have to live in the capital region. According to Pursiainen, living in Vihti is more relaxed and uncomplicated than in larger cities, with a range of housing options and large plots of land.
