Center of Creativity soon in Starachowice – Kierunek Przyszłość

Construction works at the Starachowice Palace are nearing the expected end. This is where the Creativity Center will be built, aimed at dialogue and cooperation between young people, entrepreneurs and all city residents. Details about the investment were provided by President Marek Materek and invited guests.

- Once all the work is completed, the facility will serve the local community. We will create a space for cooperation, integration, exchange of experiences and mutual learning between entrepreneurs, non-governmental organizations, social leaders, youth and city residents - said Marek Materek, Mayor of the city.

Intensive work is ongoing both in and around the modernized facilities. This year alone, plastering was carried out inside the building, window frames were installed, roofing works were carried out, and the area around the buildings was hardened. In addition, the main fence was built from the side of the street. Constitution of May 3. In addition, water and sewage systems and central heating have already been installed. Finishing works are currently underway - laying tiles, installing an elevator for the disabled and ongoing landscaping.
The Starachowice Commune obtained significant external funds for the implementation of this task.

- The existing historic building was renovated thanks to funds obtained from the "Revitalization - Better life in Starachowice, a city that found an idea for itself" program (under the Regional Operational Program of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship 2014-2020). The new wing, connector and development of the surrounding area will be financed from the "Direction for the Future - Starachowice Local Development Program" program under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 - explained President Materek.

The details of the operation of the "Pałacyk" Creativity Center were outlined by the project coordinator, Iwona Tamiołło - it is to be a publicly accessible place aimed at stimulating creativity, entrepreneurship and integration of residents. We also want to focus on creating projects, together with local leaders and members of housing estate councils, addressed to residents and implemented with their participation. This is where good ideas for the city that we want to implement are born. The palace space is also a place to solve problems and take up challenges faced by members of urban communities.

The historic part of the "Palace" will include: a cafe and rooms available for rent for running businesses for beginner entrepreneurs and start-ups. The aim of the Business Incubator will be to initiate and implement activities aimed at accelerating the development of the local economy by creating attractive conditions for the development of entrepreneurship, with particular emphasis on the sector of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups. The aim will also be to help newly established or operating entrepreneurs by gaining broad access to developed support tools for entrepreneurship development. Experts from various fields and institutions will help us with this during meetings organized in the palace spaces.

The new part of the facility will house: a modern conference room with facilities, a work and meeting area for, among others, Youth City Council, co-working space, and a meeting and integration zone for residents, young people and entrepreneurs, on the ground floor we also have a space adapted to organize exhibitions.

- Co-working spaces will be at the disposal of Starachowice entrepreneurs working online. The idea of connecting entrepreneurs and business people requires openness and providing conditions enabling entrepreneurs to meet. Creating a coworking space will enable networking of the creative sector and connecting it with other environments in the city. In the new pavilion, we plan to organize debates, training, consultations, workshops, conferences and meetings aimed at integration, exchange of experiences and cooperation. We count on the presence and cooperation with non-governmental organizations operating in the city, we are also creating this space for them - explained Marcin Gołębiowski, Deputy Mayor for Social Affairs, who was present at the conference.