Nearly 50 new jobs will be created at social enterprises in northern Masovia. The application evaluation committee at the Masovian Social Economy Support Center (mOWES) has decided to award nearly PLN 800,000 in grants and bridge support for this purpose. New jobs will be created in the Ostrołęka and Ciechanów subregions, both in existing and newly established social enterprises. The institutions that received grants in the second round of business plan applications operate in various fields. These include companies in the construction industry, such as the “Budowlańcy” Social Cooperative from Ciechanów and the “Pracuś” Social Cooperative from Czerwin, and the cleaning industry, the Perfekt-Socjal Cooperative from Czarnocinek. There are companies organizing outdoor events, such as Grodzisko from Grudusk and the Association of Traditionally Modern Villages from Długosiodło. There are also those offering care services (Sosenka from Krasnosielc and Pracuś from Czerwin) or working directly with seniors (AS Association from Mława). Noteworthy are the companies that have taken up the subject of tailoring services (the “Looking into the Future” Foundation from Wąsewo and the cooperative established by the Pułtusk commune and the Educare Scientific Society).
The ideas for social business are unconventional. “The service created with the support of mOWES involves intermediating the sale of agri-food products from local producers in Mazovia, using 24/7 sales automation,” says Sebastian Szczepaniak from the Nations Work Foundation. “This will allow us to offer products in a continuous cycle, which generates greater profits and availability for customers. We largely want to offer organic food and products not typically available in local stores, but only in specialized shops or stands,” he adds.
The main goal of the Masovian Social Economy Support Center, run by the Cooperation Fund Foundation, is to create jobs in the social economy. Within three years, it is planned that social enterprises from the Ciechanów, Ostrołęka, and The Radom district will provide 180 people who are far from the labor market. “Creating new jobs will significantly impact our cooperative’s market opportunities,” says Marzena Kuśmierczyk from the “Na Wspólnej” Social Cooperative in Ostrołęka.
“Currently, the competition in the restaurant industry is so intense that there is a need for changes in both work organization and equipment and interior design,” she says in connection with her own business plan.
Other subsidized individuals describe their plans as follows: “Thanks to the grant, we will expand our offerings with educational and therapeutic activities, especially outdoors. We have a large fenced area next to the cooperative, creating attractive conditions for children to actively relax and learn. By hiring new employees, we will offer childcare in the client’s home (nanny services on call) as well as organizing and hosting special events such as First Communions, baptisms, weddings, birthdays, and other events,” says Andrzej Więckiewicz from the “Razem” Social Cooperative. In a similar sector – preschool – the “Kurpsie” Association of Associations will create jobs. Together.”
This year’s funded social economy entities also included the Association for Supporting Senior Activity (AS), which was awarded this year’s Mazovian Social Economy Brand distinction. The Association’s primary focus is increasing senior activity in local communities through various forms of cultural, artistic, tourist, and scientific activities. The new grant for a company separated from the Association will be used to expand its existing operations to include physical therapy services, consultations, and a folk costume sewing workshop.
Social economy is defined as an economic activity that combines social and economic goals. It is crucial that, beyond the goal of making money (profit), activities that benefit people (members and beneficiaries) are also important. It is also referred to as the social economy or social entrepreneurship.
The activities within mOWES involve creating jobs for people remote from the labor market. “We focus on an innovative approach to cross-sectoral partnerships and intensive local animation,” says Daniel Prędkopowicz from Cooperation Fund Foundation. “We engage local governments, NGOs, labor market institutions, and local entrepreneurs in our activities supporting social economy entities. As part of our services supporting the development of the social economy, we offer, in addition to financial assistance, training, consulting, expert services, as well as support for local animators in social economic activities, and study visits to thriving social enterprises,” he adds.
The second call for business plans concerned two subregions of the Mazovian Voivodeship: Ostrołęka and Ciechanów. The allocation for financial support for the Ciechanów area has been exhausted. Subsequent calls for proposals will be held in June for the Radom subregion and in the fall for the Ostrołęka subregion.
Subsidized initiative groups, social cooperatives, and social enterprises:
Ciechanów subregion
1. “Razem” Social Cooperative (PLN 63,200)
2. “PERFEKT-SOCJAL” Social Cooperative (PLN 63,200)
3. AS Association for Supporting Senior Activity (PLN 79,000)
4. Pułtusk Commune/Educare Scientific Society (PLN 79,000)
5. “Budowlańcy” Social Cooperative (PLN 79,000)
6. “Grodzisko” Social Cooperative (PLN 31,600)
7. Nations Labor Foundation (PLN 31,600)
Ostrołęka Subregion
8. “Kurpsie Razem” Union of Associations (PLN 79,000)
9. “Looking into the Future” Foundation (PLN 47,400)
10. Traditionally Modern Association for Villages (PLN 63,200)
11. “Na Wspólnej” Social Cooperative (PLN 47,400)
12. “PRACUŚ” Social Cooperative (PLN 47,400)
13. “SOSENKA” Initiative Group Łukasz Skorupski, Hubert Skorupski, Elżbieta Skorupska, Zdzisław Skorupski (PLN 63,200)
Detailed results are available at: http://ostroleka.iwes.pl/wyniki-ii-konkursu-biznesplanow-na-nowe-miejsca-pracy-w-przedsiebiorstwach-spolecznych/
The projects are co-financed by the European Union from the European Social Fund under the Regional Operational Programme of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship for 2014-2020. They will be implemented until 2019.
