Bottom Rules is a project that foremost aims to enable local level organisations to collect knowledge and experience of development and economic growth in rural areas through a transnational exchange of experience. The Bottom Rules project will, through close collaboration with another Northern Periphery project DESERVE, operate a mutual exchange of knowledge and experience where both the projects give and receive examples of new work methods that can be implemented in their own work. In the Bottom Rules project a focus will be placed on the local level, which is where transnational connections will be made. The DESERVE project involves the northern parts of Sweden, Iceland, Finland as well as parts of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The Bottom Rules partnership incorporates 7 municipalities as well as the Association of Local Authorities in Jämtland, Mid Sweden, and the Swedish National Rural Development Agency on a national level. The project will also work with 9 municipalities in the Counties of North Tröndelag, Nordland and Troms in Norway as well as Indre Namdal Regionråd and The County Administrations of Troms and North Tröndelag at a regional level. The Bottom Rules and Deserve projects will work supportively together as if they were a joint project, sharing expertise and knowledge, but with separate finances and project reporting. Expected Results: · Every participating municipality will document two, or parts of two models, that they are interested in implementing in their own rural development work.· Increased knowledge within the area of rural development through a transnational experience exchange between 5 countries.· New initiatives within rural development work regarding both commercial services and economic growth.· Increased understanding of other countries social systems and problems· The creation of at least two transnational contacts/networks in both Norway and Sweden, which will remain after the conclusion of the project.· At least 6 in-depth study visits as a result of the collaboration with the DESERVE project and where mainly representatives from the local level participate.· The organisation of a concluding transnational seminar during the spring of 2007 in co-operation with the DESERVE project.