Tour no. 9

Local Action Group "By the Black and Pilica Rivers"
Tour no. 9 will take us to the municipalities under the scope of activities of the local action group (LAG) By the Czarna and Pilica Rivers, which pride themselves on the close cooperation of the local government with non-governmental organizations. The result is the constant development of rural areas, in the modernization of which residents and LAG are strongly committed.

By the Czarna and Pilica Rivers attaches great importance to supporting local entrepreneurs, both by providing substantive care and financial support for new and existing companies. In addition to helping them obtain funding for development from the LEADER action, LAG employees also try to use other sources.

During this trip, we will have the opportunity to learn about the practical benefits of this cooperation. We will visit not only companies actively operating on the local market, strongly marking their presence on the business map of the region, but also places belonging to municipalities, renovated or modernized for the benefit of the region's inhabitants.

Main topics:
- supporting entrepreneurship,
- cultural heritage of the countryside,
- sport and recreation.

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Piotrowski sawmill
We will start our journey with a trip to the small village of Krężołek, where we will visit a family company running a sawmill. This place benefited from the support of the LAG under the LEADER action, under the EU budget for 2014-2020.
In addition, the company also obtained funding from the European Regional Development Fund under the Regional Operational Program of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship for the construction of an ecological pellet production line based on renewable energy sources.

The total value of the project is PLN 1.298.458,80 (ca. EUR 286.003,00), the value of UE funding is PLN 682,214.00 (ca. EUR 150.267,00).

Witold Szproch A manufacturer of traditional ice cream
The second place we will go to is Łopuszna-village where there is a thriving company of Mr. Witold Szproch. With the support of the LAG, the entrepreneur started the production of ice cream based on natural ingredients and traditional recipes. This was done thanks to the implementation of the project, which included the purchase and installation of equipment necessary to develop the company. It is worth mentioning that the activity of Mr. Witold also includes the production of traditional, high-quality cold meats, under the brand name "Rarities of Świętokrzyskie".
The total value of the project is PLN 339.787,50 (ca. EUR 74.843,00), the funding value is PLN 151,494.00 (ca. EUR 33.368,00)

Historical Dutch type windmill
During the third part of our trip, we will visit the showcase of the Krasocin municipality- a historic Dutch windmill from 1920. The building, falling into disrepair over the years, was restored with the own funds of the municipality, which in cooperation with the local community created the Bread Museum there.

The inhabitants of the region provided the Museum with unique exhibits related to the history of agricultural work. Among the flails, sickles, scythes and winnowers formerly used in agriculture, we can also find items used in the everyday life of local residents - spinning wheels, hand-washing tarees, bread shovels, churn and charcoal iron. The whole is surrounded by pictures depicting the work and life of rural residents, captured in photos from decades ago.

Communal Sports and Recreation Center in Łopuszno
Ending the trip, using the example of one of the places in Łopuszno, we will look at ways to develop the village and its inhabitants through the prism of developing sports and recreational infrastructure.
The Sports and Leisure Center in Łopuszno, in cooperation with local social organizations, has been actively using the possibility of obtaining EU funds for the development of its infrastructure in recent years. The local action group By the Czarna and Pilica River co-financed the construction of a skatepark and a complex of pitches here. Additionally, from the funds of the European Regional Development Fund, a summer swimming pool with accompanying infrastructure and summer houses were built in this place.
The total value of investments co-financed from EU funds 2014-2020 in the area of the center is: PLN 3.685.742,38 (ca. EUR 811.837,00), the value of funding PLN 1.111.244,52 (ca. EUR 244.767,00).