WHAT’S NEW!? #10 - VILLACH IN JANUARY 2022

The welcome2villach team collects the most important news from around Villach in a compact, monthly “News Story”, with links to more information. In January we will take stock, look positively towards the future, and we will also not forget to tell you about which cultural offerings are coming up. We wish all of our readers health, happiness, and all the best for 2022! 
 

• Hundreds of new jobs are coming to Federaun with Austria’s greenest logistics center. The new DLH (Deutsche Logistik Holding) logistics center, with 25% required green space, a photovoltaic system, and e-mobility, will be done by 2025. 
   
• A new laboratory is coming to tpv Technology Park Villach! Work has already begun on the testing and measurement center for electromagnetic compatibility.
   
• With the “My Idea - My Shop” (“Meine Idee - mein Shop”) funding program, the City of Villach and the KWF (Carinthian Economic Promotion Fund) are supporting entrepreneurs who want to take steps towards becoming self-employed. The application deadline spans six weeks between January and March 2022, and all important information can be found here.
   
• The City of Villach’s “Augen auf” app is quite popular with locals because 98.88% of the time the problem areas they report, whether it’s overfilled trash bins, potholes, or non-functioning streetlights, are taken care of very quickly.
   
• 2022 budget outlook: Villach’s city treasury hasn’t suffered quite as much due to the worldwide COVID crisis as previously believed. The actual budget deficit for 2022 will be far below the earlier projected sum of €10.9 million (before reserves), and is now estimated to be only €878,000 - even during the pandemic Villach has shown itself to be a stable economic center. The budget for the new year amounts to around €262 million and will be used for residents’ key needs: job and housing security, educational opportunities for children, sustainability, and modern mobility.

• Villach’s Cultural Award 2021 goes to Simone Schönett! The author gives a voice to those who are on the margins of society. 
   
• Dobratsch Nature Park looks to the future with its new Nature Park Z vision - the Nature Park of the future (Zukunft). “Nature Park Z” will expand the four-pillar model that the park has had until now - protection, education, relaxation, and regional development - by adding in the important aspect of research. The visions and projects are listed on the Dobratsch Nature Park website.
   
• The City of Villach is offering consultations around the COVID vaccination for children and youths. Parents and guardians can get advice and information from experienced pediatricians every Tuesday from 5 - 6 p.m. Please note: Admittance only with an appointment! Appointments can be made by calling +43 4242 205 11 33.
   
• Cultural events in January:
   
  • 20 years of neuebuehnevillach! The team of the neuebuehnevillach theater company has a lot planned for this anniversary year - a “Theater on the Train”, clown theater in preschools, and of course the Spectrum Festival are planned. Check out the entire program for 2022 here.
     
  • You can see artist Melitta Moschik’s exhibition “Touching Reality” in the Galerie Freihausgasse until the middle of February.
     
  • The “Lesestadt” Children’s Literature Festival is planned for January 2022. Dates and times for the workshops and book presentations can be found here.
     
  • The Three Kings Market in Villach (Dreikönigsmarkt) will take place on January 10th from 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. in the market area between Lederergasse and Ringmauergasse, as well as on the Kaiser-Josef-Platz.
     
  • Exhibition at Infineon: In the foyer of Infineon’s reception building you can experience an exciting and interactive exhibition of the company’s 50 years of history in Villach.