Community strengths

Town/Community:

administrative centre - seat of district authorities;
sustainable development of the Community on the basis of:
- Development Strategy,
- Local Development Plan,
- Multiannual Investment Programme,
- Programme for Rehabilitation of Post-industrial Areas,
- Study on Conditions and Directions of Spatial Development;
favourable economic and social conditions;
community is in a good situation;
increasing share of community′s own revenues;
dynamic development of the community, as evidenced by increasing budget revenues;
low labour costs;
low business activity costs (including taxes);
membership in associations as well as local and transregional unions;
participates in numerous competitions that confirm high standards of its service;
takes actions to prevent corruption among local government officials;

Office:

all matters related to the investment may be dealt with in:
- Town Office;
modern, well managed Community (ISO Certificate):
- Town Office;
high quality service;
quick and efficient decision making;
short deadlines for issuing decisions and permits;
service is provided in the following languages:
- English,
- French,
- German,
- Italian;
well qualified and competent staff;
creative staff;
over 50% of staff have a higher education diploma;
wide experience in obtaining external resources (including EU funds) - high effectiveness;
tax exemptions;
clear and stable rules regulating tax reliefs for investors;
legal and economic measures for attracting investment;
radio, TV and press coverage of local business initiatives;
cultural and business relations with foreign partners in the framework of partner towns;
close cooperation between local government and entrepreneurs;
close cooperation between local authorities and entrepreneurs;
environmentally friendly community investment;
thriving Community Information Centre;

Location:

advantageous location in the vicinity of the country′s border in: the North-East;
conveniently located in the vicinity of: Katowice, Kraków;
conveniently located in the vicinity of cargo airport in: Katowice-Pyrzowice;
conveniently located in the vicinity of passenger airport in: Katowice-Pyrzowice;
conveniently located in the vicinity of sports and leisure airport in: Muchowiec;
attractive geographical location for tourism-related activity;
conveniently located at the crossing of important communications routes;
conveniently located in the vicinity of railway hubs in: Katowice, Częstochowa, Zawiercie;
located in the agglomeration area of: Katowice-Dąbrowa Górnicza-Jaworzno-Mysłowice-Będzin-Czeladź;

Environment:

environment protection is a matter of importance for the authorities;
environment improvement due to high quality pro-environmental measures;
selective waste collection throughout the community area;
tourism-related advantages that favour active leisure activities:
- forests,
- rivers,
- water routes,
- botanical gardens,
- zoological gardens;
access to clean surface and subterranean waters;
rich mineral deposits;
building material deposits;
mild climate;
natural features of historic importance;

Culture/sport/leisure:

interesting tourism opportunities, for more details, see:
- www.sosnowiec.pl;
opportunities for active participation in cultural events - cinemas, theatres, concert halls, museums, etc.;
numerous culture centres of various profiles;
buildings of historical, cultural and religious interest (monuments):
- www.sosnowiec.pl;
rich calendar of cultural and social events - numerous mass cultural, entertainment or sports events:
active Community Culture Centre;
opportunities for water sports - technical and tourist facilities:
- canoeing,
- water skiing,
- sailing;
horse studs - opportunities for horse riding and other forms of horse tourism;
ski slopes and runs - opportunities for skiing (cross-country, downhill skiing, etc.);
culture and sports facilities hosting events at the:
- international level;
specialised sports and recreation centres for sports professionals:
- performance and sports halls;
sports fields and pitches open for all;
ice rinks open for all;
active sports clubs;
well-developed hotel and tourist services network;
maintaining and developing cultural tradition: folk music, handicraft, etc.;

Education and training:

dense network of primary and lower secondary schools:
- primary schools: 38,
- lower secondary schools: 30;
dense network of secondary schools - number of schools: 29;
important university centre;
branches of universities in the town/community area:
- University of Silesia,
- Silesian University of Technology,
- Humanitas University,
- Medical University of Silesia,
- Business Language College,
- Foreign Language College,
- University School of Philosophy and Education Ignatianum in Cracow;
easy access to universities in neighbouring towns:
- Katowice,
- Gliwice,
- Zabrze;
thriving research and development institutes;
well-qualified potential staff of various training levels and profiles;
a variety of professional qualifications among the inhabitants;
well-qualified teaching staff;
high standards of education;
high quality equipment in education facilities;
computer rooms open for all;
extensive network of kindergartens and creches;
numerous public libraries of varying types;
community authorities support for the professional development of teachers;

Society:

actively involved inhabitants;
well-educated society;
inhabitants are willing to work;
high working standards;
high percentage of inhabitants at productive age;
large population centre;
high share of inhabitants with university or secondary school diploma;
well-functioning social care facilities;
particular care for public safety;
welcoming and friendly inhabitants;
inhabitants await new investment;
inhabitants are oriented towards new and innovative social and economic measures;
representatives of various denominations coexist in harmony;

Technical Infrastructure:

modern technical and public utility infrastructure;
vast reserves with suppliers of technical utilities;
low costs of business activity - low costs of technical utilities;
operating rubbish dump at close distance;
organised waste management (own rubbish dump and waste segregation);
modern sewage treatment plant;
sewage treatment plant with potential for extension and treatment of non-public sewage;
good road infrastructure:
- international road,
- national roads network,
- regional roads network,
- district roads network,
- bypass;
good Internet connections;

Business Infrastructure within the Community:

tax incentives and other reliefs for investors;
actively operating organisations for enterprise;
the community features:
- Customs Department,
- District Court,
- Revenue Office;
wide variety of insurance services;
wide variety of banking services;
dynamic enterprise growth;
well-developed economy, including SMEs, trade and craft;
market-economy structure of ownership - predominance of private sector entities;
diversified structure of business entities;
high absorption capacity of the market;
large market in the region;
large labour market;
dense trade network;
well-organised healthcare system;
active involvement of social organisations;
training centres in the community area;
well-developed telecommunications infrastructure;
a large number of foreign enterprises;
a large number of Polish enterprises;
access to railway with a siding;
access to broad gauge railway track allowing for rail transport to the East;
access to dry handling docks;
sustainable community policy as regards public utilities;
well-developed industry branches:
- Mining and quarrying;
- Processing industry:
  - Manufacture of foods and beverages,
  - Publishing; printing and reproducing recorded media,
  - Manufacture of rubber and plastic goods,
  - Manufacture of metals,
  - Manufacture of metal goods,
  - Manufacture of machines and equipment,
  - Manufacture of electrical machines and apparatus;

Investment:

valid space development plans covering community investment areas;
valid space development plans in the community cover the surface of: 48%;
level of community spending on own investment is increased every year;
high standards of spatial planning;
portfolio of investment areas includes community-owned plots;
portfolio of investment areas includes private plots;
portfolio of investment areas includes plots with complete technical infrastructure;
wide and diversified promotion of investment areas;
professional portfolio of investment areas;
vast reserves of investment areas, i.e.: 300 ha, przeznaczone pod:
- warehouses,
- exhibition centres,
- industrial facilities,
- services,
- individual housing,
- cooperative housing;
attractive prices of land;
easy road access to investment areas;
investment areas in attractive locations;
favourable conditions for housing development;
positive attitude towards investment;
buildings available for adaptation by investors;