Swiss Funds for Ciechanów

Swiss Funds for Ciechanów

The City of Ciechanów is set to receive over PLN 51 million as part of the so-called Swiss Funds. These non-reimbursable grants will be allocated toward the thermal modernization of eight municipal buildings in the "Bloki" housing estate, the renovation of the Municipal Social Welfare Centre (MOPS) on Sienkiewicza Street, the creation of crisis intervention apartments, and the launch of two resident support centers focused on energy efficiency (in Ciechanów and Opinogóra Górna). Ciechanów is one of only a few cities in Poland to reach the finals of the Polish-Swiss Town Development Program. This program aims to improve the quality of life for residents and reduce socio-economic disparities, and is funded entirely by Switzerland.

The City of Ciechanów is among the select group of local governments to benefit from this initiative. The project's goal is to counteract the exclusion of residents in Ciechanów and its functional urban area. Ciechanów is set to receive over PLN 51 million.

"This is the first time our city will benefit from Swiss funds, which will provide 100% financing for our new initiatives. It is a large-scale, multi-sector investment project, both in terms of financial value and the scope of tasks we are undertaking. This is an incredible success for Ciechanów; out of 119 competing cities, only 19 were selected as finalists," emphasizes Krzysztof Kosiński, President of Ciechanów.

The funds supporting Ciechanów's development come from the Town Development Program, a component of the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme. The total budget for the Town Development Program is CHF 327.882 million (consisting of a CHF 278.7 million Swiss contribution and a CHF 49.182 million Polish contribution).

In the "Bloki" estate, eight multi-family municipal residential buildings will undergo thermal modernization. These include: Hallera 13/15, Moniuszki 5/7, Moniuszki 9/11, Okrzei 1, Okrzei 13, Okrzei 22, Narutowicza 6/12, and Wyzwolenia 13.

Additionally, a similar renovation will be carried out on a building in Kołaczkowo (Municipality of Opinogóra Górna, the project partner). The MOPS headquarters in Ciechanów will undergo thermal modernization as well and be equipped with new facilities. Moreover, several city-owned premises will be renovated and repurposed as crisis intervention apartments.

A new Resident Support Center is to be established in Ciechanów. It will serve as a dedicated space where individuals in difficult life situations, those who have been excluded, or those at risk of social exclusion can find assistance. The primary beneficiaries include the elderly, people with disabilities, clients of the Municipal Social Welfare Centre (MOPS), residents of revitalization areas, and those experiencing or at risk of energy poverty. The center's activities will focus on counteracting energy exclusion by providing grants for the purchase of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) for single-family homeowners, as well as subsidies for the replacement of windows and doors in multi-family buildings. Furthermore, the center will offer residents psychological assistance, support for the purchase and rental of rehabilitation equipment, professional consultancy and training as well as integration initiatives. Resources from the Swiss Funds will enable the renovation and furnishing of the premises to fully adapt them to the needs of the facility.

A second such center will be established in Opinogóra Górna. Its activities are designed to support individuals experiencing energy poverty or those at risk of this type of exclusion. This includes the elderly, people with disabilities, and clients of the GOPS (Municipal Social Welfare Centre), as well as others facing social, health, or economic challenges.

"The fact that Ciechanów has been included in the ranking of projects under the Swiss Funds confirms the effectiveness of local authorities in planning and implementing ambitious development initiatives. The planned investments in urban revitalization and energy efficiency improvements have gained recognition from the experts evaluating Ciechanów's application. All of this demonstrates that the city is thinking forward—prioritizing the quality of life for its residents, modernity, and environmental responsibility," emphasizes Konrad Wojnarowski, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy.

The basis for applying for the Swiss Funds was the city's preparation of a preliminary project proposal, which included specific development activities aimed at improving the residents' quality of life and counteracting their exclusion in various aspects. The proposal submitted by the Ciechanów local government received a positive opinion from a committee composed of experts from Poland and Switzerland. On July 10, the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy announced that Ciechanów had been included in the ranking list with a successfully evaluated application. Over the next five months, work will continue with experts to submit complete project proposals. Following this, a funding agreement will be signed.

An essential element of the Town Development Program is the strengthening of Polish-Swiss cooperation. In the coming months, the city of Ciechanów will be looking for a partner in Switzerland for bilateral cooperation. This partnership aims to leverage the best practices of Swiss cities in the field of local development management and the implementation of planned activities.