The best investments in Eastern Poland – TOP Municipal Investments of Eastern Poland 2014 awards received
Białystok/Katowice, 18 September 2014 – Awards in the TOP Municipal Investments of Eastern Poland 2014 popularity contest were granted during the Eastern Economic Congress in Białystok. As many as 12 projects received those prestigious awards.
The intention of the organiser of the TOP Municipal Investments of Eastern Poland popularity contest was to indicate best investment practice implemented by self-government units, municipal companies or other entities under the factual authority of self-government, as well as recognise those who have achieved investment success owing to some brave and pro-development decisions.
The contest honoured those of municipal investments that have contributed the most to the development of the economy, region and inhabitants of Eastern Poland in the last ten years, and indicated the best investments implemented in the area of five voivodeships: the Podlaskie Voivodeship, the Lublin Voivodeship, the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, the Podkarpackie Voivodeship and the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship.
The editorial office of the Portalsamorzadowy.pl service owned by PTWP Group, in cooperation with the Advisory Council of the contest, singled out ten TOP Municipal Investments of Eastern Poland 2014 of equal rank. Further two best projects were also indicated by the Internet users. Nearly 70 thousand votes were given in an online voting.
Titles of TOP Municipal Investments of Eastern Poland 2014 were granted to the following projects: Renewal of the Market Square and Urban Space in Białystok; Centrum Geoedukacji (GeoEducation Centre) in Kielce; Rzeszów International Airport – Construction of a New Passenger Terminal; Modernisation and Enlargement of Elbląg Sea Port Infrastructure; Preparation of Areas in the Vicinity of Białystok for the Purposes of the Suwałki Special Economic Zone; Creation of Puławski Park Naukowo-Technologiczny (Puławy Science and Technology Park) and Preparation of Investment Areas; Regionalne centrum kształcenia zawodowego nowoczesnych technologii (Regional Centre for Vocational Training in New Technologies) in Rzeszów; Construction of Mini-Marinas, Complete with Waste Collection and Separation Systems in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship; Zintegrowany System Miejskiego Transportu Publicznego (Integrated Public Municipal Transport System) in Lublin; and the Biomass-Fired Co-Generation Unit of the Łężańska Heating Plant in Krosno.
There were also two investments that won in the online ranking of readers of Portalsamorzadowy.pl: Construction of a Mineral Water Pump Room, Graduation Towers and Parks – a Spa Park and a Kinesiotherapeutic Park – in the Gołdap Health Resort; and Improvement of Water and Wastewater Management of the Ełk Agglomeration.
The awards were granted to the winners on 18 September 2014 in Opera i Filharmonia Podlaska w Białymstoku (Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic – European Art Centre in Białystok). The ceremonial gala was an accompanying event of the Eastern Economic Congress.
The Advisory Council consisted of experienced local authorities, economists and experts, who were assessing the projects using various criteria, such as: pro-development character of the investment, scale of the investment in relation to the budget and the capabilities of the local government, aesthetic qualities, functionality, innovative character and cooperation with the local community at the stage of designing the investment project, as well as financial engineering and active asset management.
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For further information on the TOP Municipal Investments of Eastern Poland contest, please visit:
http://www.portalsamorzadowy.pl
Information about the winners:
Renewal of the Market Square and Urban Space in Białystok
The main idea of the project was to implement a new development plan for the city market as the central square of Białystok, in place of the former Skwer at Rynek Kościuszki, and a pedestrian passage, complete with an extension reaching the square in front of the Cathedral in Białystok. The main aim of that project of public interest character was to create an ordered and aesthetic urban space, as well as introduce changes to the traffic that goes round the very city centre. The renewal was completed in 2009. The cost of the investment amounted to PLN 13.457 million. The project was entirely financed with funds originating from the budget of the City of Białystok.
Centrum Geoedukacji (GeoEducation Centre) in Kielce
Centrum Geoedukacji (GeoEducation Centre) is located in the south-east part of the Wietrznia preserve and forms the most important facility along the route of “Świętokrzyski Szlak Archeo-Geologiczny” (“The Archaeological and Geological Trail of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship”). The centre was constructed on top of a hill – a remnant of limestone raw materials production in old quarries. As far as materials are concerned, the building refers to local tradition, while maintaining a totally contemporary look in terms of its architecture. Centrum Geoedukacji (GeoEducation Centre) is a place where geological and geographical knowledge is taught in an easily understood manner, using contemporary methods and education tools. The total cost of the investment amounted to PLN 32.3 million, out of which PLN 29.5 million was received from UE funds. The Centre was inaugurated in 2012.
Rzeszów International Airport – Construction of a New Passenger Terminal
The new passenger terminal building at the Rzeszów-Jasionka airport is intended for passenger traffic service for both domestic and international airlines. The terminal consists of a publicly available main hall, located in the north part of the area, and a part of the building that allows providing direct service to passengers being received and checking in, located along the planned apron (in the south part of the area). The construction of the new passenger terminal has translated into an increased number of passengers being serviced at the airport. The total cost of construction amounted to PLN 98.43 million, out of which the value of EU funding amounted to PLN 35.79 million. The construction of the new passenger terminal took 15 months. The facility has been inaugurated on 17 April 2012 and first passengers were checked in on 8 May 2012.
Modernisation and Enlargement of Elbląg Sea Port Infrastructure
The main aim of the project was to reduce local environment pollution through satisfaction of current and future needs of the inhabitants within the scope of wastewater management. The investment was entered in the list of key projects implemented as part of the Regional Operational Programme for the Lublin Voivodeship for the years 2007-2013.
The total cost of the investment, which has been completed in 2013, amounted to PLN 34.825 million, out of which PLN 14 million were provided from EU funds. The beneficiary of the funds was the Nałęczów municipality.
Preparation of Areas in the Vicinity of Białystok for the Purposes of the Suwałki Special Economic Zone
The main aim of the project was to create favourable conditions for enterprise development in the capital of the region through creation of access to infrastructure and utilities in investment areas. The implementation of the project has contributed to an increase in the competitiveness of the voivodeship and increase of the economic growth rate, as well as creation of new jobs unrelated to agriculture. The project, which has been completed in 2014, was implemented by the City of Białystok. The total cost was PLN 50.202 million, out of which PLN 43.936 million was provided by EU funding.
Creation of Puławski Park Naukowo-Technologiczny (Puławy Science and Technology Park) and Preparation of Investment Areas
The subject of the project was comprehensive preparation of two areas for the needs of investors through creation of Puławski Park Naukowo-Technologiczny (Puławy Science and Technology Park), as well as road and infrastructure investments. Puławski Park Naukowo-Technologiczny is a state-of-the-art facility, which consists of three two-storey wings with a total usable floor area of 12,132 m2. The park offers offices, complete with full infrastructure, which makes it possible to conduct research and implement innovations there. Another advantage is the location of the investment in an area of a very well-developed industry, in the proximity of five scientific institutes in Puławy. Puławski Park Naukowo-Technologiczny lies within a short distance from a ring road that is expected to connect Warsaw and Lublin. The total value of the Park amounts to over PLN 77.242 million, out of which over PLN 65.266 million was obtained from EU funds. The beneficiary of the financing was the City of Puławy.
Regionalne centrum kształcenia zawodowego nowoczesnych technologii (Regional Centre for Vocational Training in New Technologies) in Rzeszów
The aim of the investment was to create favourable conditions for providing students of vocational schools from Rzeszów with practical knowledge of how to use state-of-the-art production technologies. As part of an infrastructure intended for practical education of students, 11 practical education laboratories were created; each of them has been equipped with state-of-the-art devices, machines and specialised software. The new, well-educated and qualified staff will find employment in the aircraft and machine-building industries in the region. The beneficiary of the investment, which has been completed in May 2014, was the City of Rzeszów. The total value of the project amounted to PLN 11.8 million, out of which PLN 8.5 million was provided by EU funding.
Construction of Mini-Marinas, Complete with Waste Collection and Separation Systems in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship
The project included implementation of 10 investments. These were eco-marinas, which have been constructed in Mikołajki, Siemiany, Mrągowo, Iława, Pisz, Wilkasy, Piaski, Ryn, Zalew and Węgorzewo. Another investment, located in Kamień, is planned to be completed in 2015. The basic aim of creating mini-marinas is to minimise the negative impact of sailing activity on the environment. All marinas (implemented as part of the Regional Operational Programme for the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship for the years 2007-2013) have been equipped with environment infrastructure, as well as tourist and commercial infrastructure. Completion of the investment is planned for 2015. The total value of the project amounts to PLN 6.698 million, out of which PLN 5.306 million comes from EU funds.
Zintegrowany System Miejskiego Transportu Publicznego (Integrated Public Municipal Transport System) in Lublin
The project assumes a comprehensive refurbishment of the municipal transport system in Lublin. It entails such investments as the construction of 34 kilometres of new trolleybus traction and a depot at ul. Grygowa, reconstruction of streets and junctions, and purchase of 70 trolleybuses and 100 city buses. Implementation of these projects will bear fruit in the form of such phenomena as: bringing an end to the prolonging time of travel when using municipal transport; increasing the timeliness of municipal transport vehicles; increasing personal security of passengers through purchase of vehicles equipped with monitoring devices; increasing the availability of public transport for the disabled; and reducing the negative impact of public transport on the environment. The beneficiary of the project is the City of Lublin. The value of the investment amounts to PLN 520.6 million, out of which EU funding constitutes PLN 340.4 million. Completion of the investment is planned for December 2015.
Biomass-Fired Co-Generation Unit of the Łężańska Heating Plant in Krosno
The project assumed construction of a co-generation unit consisting of a thermal oil (biomass-fired) heater and an ORC turbogenerator, the aim of which is to produce heat in combination with the production of electricity, while using renewable fuel (biomass) that conforms to the requirements of high-efficiency co-generation. The investment has been completed in January 2013. The investor was Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Gospodarki Komunalnej – Krośnieński Holding Komunalny. The total cost of implementation of the undertaking amounted to gross PLN 40,096,696 and the amount of eligible expenditure amounted to net PLN 31,872,960. The project was co-financed by the European Union from the Cohesion Fund within the Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programme – and the financing obtained was net PLN 11,512,500.
Construction of a Mineral Water Pump Room, Graduation Towers and Parks – a Spa Park and a Kinesiotherapeutic Park in the Gołdap Health Resort
The investment assumed providing the only health resort in the Warmia and Mazury region with: the drilling of two saline wells of the depth of 646 m and 426 m respectively; construction of Masurian saline graduation towers (the only ones in North-East Poland); construction of a mineral and medicinal water pump room; construction of all-year-round mini-graduation towers and a salt grotto – Zdrój, as well as Promenada Zdrojowa, a molo, footpaths and bicycle paths, and a kinesiotherapeutic park in the city centre. The beneficiary of the investment was the Gołdap municipality. The total value of the investment amounts to PLN 39.9 million, out of which PLN 33.9 million comes from EU funds. The construction has been completed in 2013.
Improvement of Water and Wastewater Management of the Ełk Agglomeration
The scope of the project included such undertakings as a comprehensive reconstruction of a wastewater pumping station, sanitary canals, manholes and a water supply main, complete with a replacement of fixture. The investment was carried out on such a large scale for the first time in the history of Ełk. The value of the project was (net) PLN 92.864 million, out of which PLN 40.175 million (43 per cent) was provided by the PWiK and the remaining PLN 52.688 million (57 per cent) came from EU Cohesion Fund (Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programme).
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The idea behind the Eastern Economic Congress in Białystok is twofold: to present the economic potential of voivodeships of Eastern Poland and show the eastern regions as valuable intermediaries in the relations between the East and the West of Europe. During the two-day debate in Białystok, important issues will be raised, which are important from the point of view of both Polish and European economy and which have remained outside the mainstream debate so far.
The Eastern Economic Congress in Białystok – a debate on economic and trade relations between the European Union and the East of Europe – provides a logical follow-up to, and a completion of, the subject matter of the previous editions of the European Economic Congress in Katowice held so far. Both business conferences are organised by PTWP Group.
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The Eastern Economic Congress (EEC) in Białystok is a two-day series of debates, meetings and accompanying events with the participation of about a thousand guests, both from Poland and from Europe.
The organiser of the Eastern Economic Congress is PTWP Group SA, the initiator and organiser of the European Economic Congress in Katowice – the largest business conference in Central Europe, which has been organised since 2009 and deemed one of the most representative debates on the future of Europe.
For further information on the Eastern Economic Congress, please visit – www.wschodnikongres.eu/pl/.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WschodniKongresGospodarczy
For further information on the organiser – PTWP Group SA – please visit www.ptwp.pl
Additional information for the media can be obtained from:
Marta Stach, Imago Public Relations
M. 609 808 119, E. m.stach@imagopr.pl