Investor's Guide

Localisation and communication

      The population of Skarżysko-Kamienna is estimated at 50,000 inhabitants. Skarżysko-Kamienna is situated in  central Poland, in the north-west part of Świętokrzyskie Province.
      Since 1999 Skarżysko - Kamienna  is a residence of the county, consisting of communities: Bliżyn, Łączna, Skarzysko-Kamienna, Skarżysko-Kościelne and Suchedniów.
Skarżysko-Kamienna possesses exceptional communicative accessibility, because it is situated at the intersection  of the main road and railway routes from north to south and from east to west.
      The town’s most significant benefit comes from road No 7 leading from  Gdańsk through Warsaw, Skarżysko-Kamienną and Cracow to the Slovak border  as well as road No 42 in direction  Łódź – Rzeszów through Skarżysko-Kamienna, connecting simultaneously the largest industrial town of  northen part of Świętokrzyskie Province.
      In 2005 the modernisation of  communication junction roads No 7 and No 42 was conducted, which enables safety communication in mentioned above directions.
      The railway junction of Skarżysko - Kamienna is fifteen to one??? of the biggest ones  in Poland. The most important railway lines in Skarżysko include: Warszawa-Skarżysko-Kamienna-Kraków as well as Łódź-Skarżysko-Kamienna- Przemyśl.
There are two international airports at the distance of 150 km from Skarżysko-Kamienna: one in Warsaw and in Cracow. Another airport operating domestic flights is situated in Radom, 40 kilometres north of SkarżyskoThe nearest border crossings are localised in:
-    Zgorzelec  German border (  the distance of 500 kilometres),
-    Dorohusk Ukrainian border ( the distance of 240 kilometres)
-    Chyżne  Slovak border (the distance of  270 kilometr es).

Human resources

      Long industrial  tradition  of the town, dominated by big enterprises formed the labour market, on where    the main role was played  place by highly qualified technical staff.
      The  education system of Skarżysko had to meet  economic changing reality, whereas a range and the way of teaching had to suit to requirements and preferences of employers.
      A number  of town schools provide education not only at comprehensive  and vocational levels but tertiary as well.  
There are 9 secondary  schools teaching: economics, electronics, building, mechanics and motoring. One artistic school, 4 tertiary schools and Vocational Training Centre are also a part of the town educational system.
It allows everybody, the young in particular to gain and complete education  and widen qualifications.
After completing secondary education   further  education is  enabled by  academic centres located in Radom and Kielce, about 40 kilometres from the town  as well as in Warsaw, Cracow and Lublin, about 150 kilometres from the town.

Infrastructure

Well developed communal infrastructure, as well as lack of  local  ecological threats, ensure municipality ecological safety, conditions favouring development  of economic entities and unlimited access to media.
Skarżysko-Kamienna offers, to all interested subjects, conveniently localised industrial areas, possessing good access to all the elements of technical infrastructures – electrical energy, water, gas, sewage system, telecommunication network as well as heat distribution network. Moreover the town has big reserves of produced thermal energy ( the power of boiler room is used at level of 64%).
The town is continually  investing in communal infrastructure, sewage system, roads and so on. In 2001 a modernised and rebuilt  sewage plant  was  put to use. The sewage treatment plant  uses biogas arisen during production to satisfying own energetic needs,  as well as drying  residues risen  in  purifying sewages process. The nearest period means significant investments  in Thermal Engineering Plant lead together with German partner, actualisation of spatial plans, (which enables realising  large urban areas on new investments), as well as acts heading for developing of  post-industrial areas. Acting upon The Strategy of Town Development and Local Development Plan, there is Communal Waste Utilization Plant planed to build, modernization of sewage system and improvement of communication system. These are  strategic investments of  priority meaning. Moreover, elaborated  in 2005 Local Renovation Plan of Skarżysko - Kamienna predicts realisation of five big projects improving public infrastructure in 2007-2013  .

Business background

      Business supporting  institutions constitutes infrastructure of market economy and create environment for business activity. They stimulate enterprise development, influence  structural economy changes,  economic entities behaviour and attract investors.
The Skarżysko Economic Zone Ltd was created in 2002 and it is a one-person company operated by Municipal Treasury. The Skarżysko Economic Zone conducted activities includes: assistance to economic entities with setting up business activities on the area of economic zone, organising trainings and support for  business institutions creation.
      Since 2003 The Town Hall of Skarżysko-Kamienna together with The Skarżysko Economic Zone organise trade fairs called Skarżysko Presentation, which are a good  possibility to represent local business opportunities, their integration, spreading knowledge about economic potential of region and enables to establish contacts with domestic and foreigners contactors.
A number of bank’s branches, notarial chambers,  network of accountant  offices and sworn translators function in Skarżysko-Kamienna.
Both economic municipality  associations: - The Skarżysko Entrepreneurships Association and The  Guild of Various Crafts – are acting efficiently
      Visiting Municipality European Information Centre located  at  the Town Hall entrepreneurs  can gain information about accessibility of assistance and financial sources for supporting  Small and Medium Entrepreneurship activity using both  domestic and European Union funds.
Moreover, such information is available in Consultation Point. We also take other actions favouring investors and investments in town.
      Business surrounding institutions in town as well as in region, which conduct free assistance for small and medium entrepreneurships:

• Consultation Point

49 1-go Maja Street
26-110 Skarżysko-Kamienna
tel. (+48) 041 251 21 92 internal 40

• Skarżysko Economic Zone Ltd

122A Legionów Street
26-110 Skarżysko-Kamienna
tel. (+48) 041 253 40 10
fax (+48) 041 251 26 47

• The Guild of Various Crafts

6 Rzemieślnicza Street
26-110 Skarżysko-Kamienna
tel. (+48) 041 251 26 47

• The Skarżysko Entrepreneurships Association

49 1-go Maja  Street
26-110 Skarżysko-Kamienna
tel. (+48) 041 21 92 internal 45

• Chamber of Commerce and Industry Staropolska

53 Sienkiewicza Street
25-002 Kielce
tel. (+48) 041 344 43 92

• Development Foundation in Starachowice

Guarantee Fund
1a Mickiewicza Street
27-200 Starachowice
tel. (+48) 041 274 46 90
fax (+48) 041 274 04 09
e-mail: Ten adres pocztowy jest chroniony przed spamowaniem. Aby go zobaczyć, konieczne jest włączenie w przeglądarce obsługi JavaScript.

• Koneckie Association of Supporting Entrepreneurship

49 1-go Maja Street
26-110 Skarżysko-Kamienna
tel. (+48) 041 251 24 32
e-mail: Ten adres pocztowy jest chroniony przed spamowaniem. Aby go zobaczyć, konieczne jest włączenie w przeglądarce obsługi JavaScript.

Economy and development possibilities

      Political and economic changes of the nineties  had significant meaning for economic potential of the town. Not all the companies met new  requirements. At first, the  unemployment increased,  however people’s initiatives caused rapid growth of commerce,  some services and medium enterprises.
      At present the most dominated among  all industries are: metallurgy, electronics, shoe – making  branches. The railway gradually reduces the role of the biggest employer on behalf of  small and medium  entrepreneurships which together employ the  majority of general  employee number.
      A continuously growth of the number of  economic entities in private sector has been observed in Skarżysko –Kamienna for ten years.  Currently there are  4713 firms,  whose operating here  the main areas of economic activity are: commerce and repair – 2094 firms (44.4%), industrial processing – 489 firms (10.4%), building engineering – 395 firms (8.4%), transport, stock management and communication  - 347 firms (7.4%), service of real estate and companies  - 548 firms (11.6%), hotels and restaurants –122 economic entities (2.6%) as well as financial agency – 214 firms (4.5%), the other sections – 504 firms (10.7%).


      Taking care of permanently raising investment attraction  of our town, the Subzone of the Starachowice Economic Zone was established. It covers the area of 10.5 ha  industrial well developed areas.
      The positive phenomena of the last four years is a significant interest by foreign companies. The highest investments with foreign capital was made in communal economy ( German capital), in  commerce (German, British, Portuguese capital), in distributing fuels branch (British and German capital) and in industry (American and Israeli capital).
      The most important former employees in the town: PKP Skarżysko (Polish Railway State) and The Metal Works Ltd (ZM Mesko SA) are presently after restructuring. Mesko SA with the aid of Israeli and American capital is upgrading production and launching  a new generation of products, which ensures economic stability in the nearest years.
      Among the significant enterprises  there are also: ZEORK SA, WTÓRPOL PPHU, SKAMET Metalowa Spółdzielnia Pracy.
Skarżysko-Kamienna, thanks to favourable geographical location, predictable and stabile conditions of doing business, institutions supporting entrepreneurships, tax exemptions to employers is a good place to invest.
Confirmation of that  it is the  commend which  Skarżysko- Kamienna was rewarded in 5th edition of  “ Fair Play Municipality” competition – in a range of  “Certificated Investment Localisation 2005”.

     The Subzone of the Starachowice Economic Zone in Skarzysko-Kamienna.
    The Special Economic Zone “Starachowice” was established on 9 September 1997. The Zone was set for 20 years and occupies  the total area of  351.4 ha, including subzones:
Starachowice, Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, Stąporków, Skarżysko-Kamienna, Końskie, Szydłowiec.
      The main purposes of the “Starachowice” Special Economic Zone are:

• Use of the existing industrial assets and infrastructure in existing and new production lines by activation of the technological potential and transfer of modern technology to the province.

• Support for other businesses operating in the province by new co-operation possibilities with companies running their activities within the zone.

• Decrease of  the level of unemployment in the region.

• Development of preferable economic activities such as: precise industry, electronics, wood production, automotive industry, metallurgy, building material industry.

• Creation of new employment places.

      Conducting business activity within the “ Starachowice” Special Economic Zone requires a permit, issued by the Manager of the Zone, who has authorisation of the Minister of Economy. The minimum value of investment outlays is EUR 100,000.
      The Subzone of the “Starachowice “ Economic Zone in Skarżysko - Kamienna was established by  the Decree of the Council of Ministers of Journal of Laws 2003 No 218, item 2143 and was widen and currently includes 7 areas  with the total area of 10.5 ha.
The grounds are suitable for building purposes. The  Subzone area has industrial buildings: production halls, store buildings, offices and areas without buildings equipped in technical infrastructure  with good communication accessibility.
      Advantages of the “Skarżysko” Subzone of the Starachowice” Economic Zone are:

• long industrial tradition

• extremely good communication accessibility

• possibility to hire work qualified stuff

• fully developed technical infrastructure within the zone area

• customs stations in Starachowice and Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski

• reasonably good state of access roads

• railway station with long distance connections and a point of freight handling

• well developed banking system.

      Each entrepreneurship running business activities on the base of  permit enjoys income tax exemption according to investment expenditures specified in a permit - up to  65% of total investment costs or the level of employment specified in a permit - up to  65% of 2-year total labour costs.
      The amount of regional aid for new investment projects depends on the amount, nature and structure of investment expenditure of given enterprise. To determine the amount of regional aid for investment project, it is necessary to establish the level of qualifying costs on the basis of investment expenditure of given enterprise.
      The qualifying costs include the following types of expenditure:

• purchase  of land or purchasing the right of perpetual usufruct – these kind of costs can’t be higher than 5% of the total investment’s cost.

• expenditure on buildings and structures, they can’t be higher than 40% of the total investment  cost

• expenditure on the remaining permanent assets, connected with realisation of new investment – up to 70% the total investment’s expenses

• the amount of percentage shares of qualifying costs above mentioned to aid can’t be higher than 100% . When entrepreneurship incurs costs on  purchasing intangible and legal assets connected with obtaining patent, purchasing licence as well as not patented technical knowledge, technology or in the range of organisation and management.   

      Moreover, there are possibilities to gain a property tax exemptions by each entrepreneurship  conducting activity on the area of the Skarżysko - Kamienna town, who creates and maintains new work  position at least for 12 months.
All the mentioned above realms of possibility can be used together.
      More details about investment’s possibilities in the Skarżysko Subzone of the Special Economic Zone “ Starachowice” are available by direct contact with Marketing Office tel. (041) 275 44 45 or indirectly with the Management of  the Zone “Starachowice” at 29 Radomska Street in Starachowice tel. (041) 275 41 01.

The Skarżysko Economic Zone Ltd

      The “Skarżysko” Economic Zone was established by the resolution of  the Council Town  No 3/26/2002 of 19 December 2002. It is the owner of real estate with total area of 3.67 ha localised in the quarter  of “Zachodnie”, at national road No 42. Skarżyska Economic Zone covers post industrial area of Metal Works (MESKO SA) and offers productive halls and offices. Moreover, the Skarżysko Economic Zone owns multi functional  building with 5300 m2 usage area well equipped and fast access to internet.
      It is worth mentioning that entrepreneurships creating  new investments or new work’s places on the area of Skarżysko - Kamienna enjoy real estate tax exemptions ( Resolution of the Council Town No XXXI/77/2005 of  24 November 2005.
The all Resolution text is available on the website: www.skarzysko.pl

The other investments

      Skarżysko-Kamienna also owns attractive areas equipped in necessary utilities  and good communicative accessibility. These areas could be designed for  smaller investments with service or commerce profile in the town as well as  among the  road No 7.
All details about investment’s areas may be gained in Promotion and Development Department of the Town Hall ; 18 Sikorskiego Street  - tel. 041 25 20 145 where employees  speak  foreign languages (041 25 20 111). Employees of the Town Hall give investors information about local manufacturer’s potential, free areas and buildings, assist to choose convenient area to localise investment and direct to appropriate institutions in order to regulate necessary formalities. They also help how to fill forms in.
      Each  investor before establishing  investment plan, should note whether  firstly should establish if for this area Local Spatial Plan for this area was prepared. If so, investor ought to apply directly to  the Office of the District Authorities for  building permission. If a planned investment concerns the area without local spatial plan, the application for assessment of built-up conditions or assessment of public investment purpose  ought to be submitted  at the Town Hall ( room No 7).

Application should  consisted of:

• assessment of  area frontier  described  in  the application, presented on the  copy of principal map or in case of its lack on the copy of cadastral map . This kind of map is available in Powiatowy Ośrodek Dokumentacji Geodezyjnej  I Kartograficznej Starostwa Powiatowego  in  Skarżysko-Kamienna, 20 Sikorskiego Street tel. (041) 25 28 180

• kind of investment: construction or reconstruction of housing, (economic building – for what purposes), (productive plant – kind of technology), (service’s building, halls – with brand), (commerce-with description of sale area).

• assessment of planned spatial planning and characteristic  of planned buildings- in descriptive as well as graphic form

• characteristic of needs and predictable solution concerning service in the range of technical infrastructure

• in case of investments with significant influence on environment ( Decree of  the Council of Ministers of 9 November 2004 Journal of Law with 2004 No 257 item 2573), characteristic of investment and its effect on the environment 

Application and attachments should be submitted at the Town Hall (room No 7).
      Decision about built-up conditions has no  law consequences, which means  there is possibility to deduce  about a lot which is not our property. After gaining positive opinion investor can take activities  connected with localisation of investment.

Offices and institutions serving of investor:

• Build-up conditions

The Skarżysko - Kamienna Town Hall
Wydział Planowania Przestrzennego, Urbanistyki I Ochrony Środowiska
18 Sikorskiego  Street
26-110 Skarżysko-Kamienna
tel. (+ 48) 041 25 20 167
fax.(+ 48) 041 25 20 200

• Geodetic’s data

Starostwo Powiatowe in Skarżysko-Kamienna
Powiatowy Ośrodek Dokumentacji Geodezyjnej i Kartograficznej
20 Sikorskiego Street
26-110 Skarżysko – Kamienna
tel. (+ 48) 041 25 20 197
fax.(+ 48) 041 25 20 197

• Electric energy connection for industrial purpose

Rejonowy Zakład Energetyczny Skarżysko
22 Szydłowiecka  Street
26-110 Skarżysko – Kamienna
tel. (+ 48) 041 25 13 405 do 08
fax.(+ 48) 041 25 26 362

• Water and sewage system connection

Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Wodociągów i  Kanalizacji Sp. z o.o.
8 Cicha Street
26-110 Skarżysko – Kamienna
tel. (+ 48) 041 25 32 273
fax.(+ 48) 041 25 31 272

• Gas connection for industrial purpose

PGNiG Zakład Gazowniczy Kielce
Rozdzielnia Gazu Skarżysko-Kamienna
3 Młodzawy Street
tel. (+ 48) 041 25 24 038

• Medical inspection

Powiatowa Stacja Sanitarno-Epidemiologiczna
10 Czerwonego Krzyża Street
26-110 Skarżysko – Kamienna
tel. (+ 48) 041 25 11 868
fax.(+ 48) 041 25 11 867

• Labour inspection

Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy
Okręgowy Inspektorat Pracy w Kielcach
Al. Tysiąclecia Państwa Polskiego 4
25 – 314 Kielce
tel. (+ 48) 041 34 38 276
fax.(+ 48) 041 34 03 201

• Monument protection

Wojewódzki Oddział Służby Ochrony Zabytków
Al. IX Wieków Kielc 3
25 – 516 Kielce
tel. (+ 48) 041 34 21 414
fax.(+ 48) 041 34 45 636

• NIP tax registry

Urząd Skarbowy in Skarżysko-Kamienna
1-go Maja Street
26-110 Skarżysko – Kamienna
tel. (+ 48) 041 25 16 630, 25 16 631
fax.(+ 48) 041 25 17 136

• REGON statistical  registry

Urząd Statystyczny w Kielcach
2 Wróblewskiego Street
25-369 Kielce
tel. (+ 48) 041 36 11 542
fax.(+ 48) 041 36 11 542

• Notarial chamber

Staszek-Zubrzycka Agnieszka
13 Krasińskiego Street
26-110 Skarżysko – Kamienna
tel. (+ 48) 041 25 30 579
fax.(+ 48) 041 25 30 579

• Notarial chamber

Zarzycka  Maria
36 Piłsudskiego Street
26-110 Skarżysko – Kamienna
tel. (+ 48) 041 25 38 368
fax.(+ 48) 041 25 38 368

• Local court

11 Krasińskiego Street
26-110 Skarżysko-Kamienna
tel. (+48) 041 25 20 360

• Public administration

The Skarżysko-Kamienna Town Hall
18 Sikorskiego Street
26-110 Skarżysko-Kamienna
tel. (+48) 041 25 20 100
fax.(+48) 041 25 20 200
www.skarzysko.pl
e-mail: Ten adres pocztowy jest chroniony przed spamowaniem. Aby go zobaczyć, konieczne jest włączenie w przeglądarce obsługi JavaScript.

• The Poviat of Skarżysko- Kamienna

20 Konarskiego Street
26-110 Skarżysko-Kamienna
tel. (+48) 041 39 53 000
fax.(+48) 041 25 24 001
www.skarzysko.powiat.pl
e-mail: Ten adres pocztowy jest chroniony przed spamowaniem. Aby go zobaczyć, konieczne jest włączenie w przeglądarce obsługi JavaScript.

• The Labour Office in Skarżysko-Kamienna

105, 1-go Maja Street
26 – 110 Skarżysko-Kamienna
tel. (+48) 041 25 10 764
fax.(+48) 041 25 10 938
www.pup.skarzysko.pl

• Social Insurance Company (ZUS)

3 Kossaka Street
26 – 110 Skarżysko-Kamienna
tel. (+48) 041 25 14 414
fax.(+48) 041 25 14 400

Taxes and exemptions for entrepreneurships

      Tax duty results from act of 12 January 1991  about taxes and local payments ( Journal of Law 2002 No 9 item 84 with later changes) and from Act No XIX/80/2004 of  the Council Town  of 2 December 2004.
      In the range of real estate, tax duty concerns: lands, buildings or their parts connecting with conduct economic activity.
Commune of Skarżysko-Kamienna supporting entrepreneurships creating new job places offers them system of local tax exemptions.
24 November 2005 the Council of Town took up Resolution No XXXI /77/ 2005 concerning tax exemptions of real estate for entrepreneurships creating new investments or new job places on the area of Skarżysko-Kamienna Commune.
 According to above mentioned resolution:

• Absolves from property tax lands, buildings or their parts connected with conducting business activity  occupied by entrepreneurship who not later on 30 November 2006 for the first time starts business activity on the area of Skarżysko-Kamienna town and maintains interannual employment in theses objects not less than 2  pasts during a year.

• Absolves from property tax lands, buildings or their parts connected with conducting business activity if on their areas till 30 November 2006 arise new work  places.

• Absolves from property tax new acquired in way of purchase till 30 November 2006 on the area of Skarżysko - Kamienna buildings or their parts; lands occupied by them   designed for conducting business activity

• Absolves are valid till 30 June 2007

• The condition for  gaining exemptions is submitting by entrepreneurship  an application  together with documents confirming fulfilling conditions to gain assistance, in term of 3 months since  the acquire day  of the rights to exemptions.

• Absolves not concerning the tax subjects:

- connected with commerce activity conducted in entrepreneurship’s objects with use area above 200 m2
- being in possession of new created entrepreneurships which arose in result of transformation current economic entities.
- being in possession of new created partnerships, which arose in result of  marking off a property’s part  from an organising and legal  structure of one subject and bringing the  property to partnership.

      According to  concept of resolution, by employment of one new employee, employer will gain exemption from property tax in height of 2.000 zł.

The full text of resolution is available on website www.skarzysko.pl, at the Skarżysko Economic Zone site.