Włocławek seized the opportunity to secure funding from the Polish-Swiss Urban Development Program for a comprehensive development project. The Urban Development Program is an initiative aimed at supporting the sustainable development of cities in Poland through collaboration and knowledge exchange with Swiss partners. We were included on the list of 139 cities identified as losing their socio-economic functions and eligible to apply for such funding.
We have completed a multi-stage process, culminating in the creation of a comprehensive project that addresses the needs of residents and will help improve the quality of life in our city. As part of the preparatory work, meetings were held with the Team for the Implementation of the Włocławek 2030+ Development Strategy, during which key thematic areas for the project were identified based on the Strategy and its implementing documents – operational programs. During the project preparation process, residents had the opportunity to participate in consultations and share their opinions on key issues concerning the city's development. Surveys were conducted among residents, community leaders in Włocławek, secondary school students, residents of the school dormitory, local SMEs, business environment institutions, employees and local universities, volunteers, and medical staff of the District Health Center. The survey results confirmed the problems arising from the diagnosis and the appropriateness of the selected courses of action. When preparing the application, both the results of the residents' needs analysis and the requirements of the program from which the city is applying for funding were taken into account.
Efforts to obtain funding under the Polish-Swiss Urban Development Program were undertaken in partnership with the Włocławek County. Mayor Krzysztof Kukucki, together with Roman Gołębiewski, Head of County of Włocławek, signed a letter of intent in this regard. Cooperation between Włocławek and the Włocławek County focuses on supporting health and social welfare.
The overall project focuses on improving the quality of life of residents and increasing the city's resilience to the challenges of climate change, economic problems, and social issues. From the extensive proposals for actions that emerged from the Team's public consultations and working meetings, a set of actions consistent with the Program's objectives was identified, which the city intends to implement as part of the project "Włocławek – a city of a good vibes for the economy, the environment, and a comfortable life."
Scope of activities for the funding application:
Professional Włocławek – strengthening residents' competencies to improve their opportunities in the labor market and promoting improved educational conditions.
Enterprising Włocławek – supporting local entrepreneurs, fostering entrepreneurial and creative attitudes among residents, and providing access to investment areas.
Green Włocławek – developing green spaces in the city, environmental education, improving the competencies of local government employees, and developing a standard for maintaining green spaces in the city.
Cleanly Connected Włocławek – developing environmentally friendly urban transportation systems.
Healthy Włocławek – improving the quality of medical services in the city.
Safe Włocławek – developing an integrated system for monitoring, forecasting, and warning environmental threats.
The city has applied for funding of over PLN 80 million to implement these activities.
Additionally, the project includes a reserve measure that will be implemented if, after the initial assessment, any of the primary measures cannot be implemented. This reserve measure aims to improve energy independence and enhance the competences of local government administration.
We used various diagnostic and strategic documents when preparing the application. These included:
- Włocławek Development Strategy 2030+
- Territorial Strategy for the Functional Urban Area of Włocławek
- Włocławek Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2030
- Environmental Protection Program for 2024–2027 with a 2030 Outlook
- Włocławek Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan.
We would like to thank everyone for their involvement in preparing the scope of activities for the project and for participating in the survey.
More information about the Program can be found at: https://wsparciamiast.pl and https://www.programszwajcarski.gov.pl
