Bolesławiec was mentioned in the Regulation of the Council of Ministers, which entered into force in 2023, as a city losing its socio-economic functions. Among the nearby municipalities, in addition to Bolesławiec, the list includes Wałbrzych, Lubań and Jawor, among others. Among the 139 cities in Poland, Bolesławiec belongs to the group of cities in crisis (the unfavorable gap is widening significantly or the socio-economic situation is poor).
The regulation is consistent with a PAN report. In 2021, the report was briefly described on the PAP Local Government Service website.
It is not known which direction Bolesławiec will take. Piotr Roman’s program mentions, among other things, the construction of a nursery, a stadium, a sports field, a new pottery workshop, a pedestrian-and-bicycle bridge and the purchase of electric buses. These are all expenditures on everyday matters, with nothing for investments that would bring money to Bolesławiec. The mayor says not a word about his idea for attracting, for example, companies involved in modern technologies. Without such businesses, the city will lose its socio-economic functions and young people will emigrate from here.
To ensure that the city is not at risk of losing its socio-economic functions, the mayor should have attracted companies from various sectors capable of meeting diverse needs and ambitions. We suggest which companies and activities could contribute to the city’s stable and sustainable development:
- the high-quality food sector: companies involved in producing organic and high-quality food, including local producers that use sustainable farming practices.
- the electrical and electronic equipment sector: companies specializing in the production of professional electrical and electronic equipment, including innovative businesses developing new technologies in consumer and industrial electronics.
- the hygiene products, pharmaceuticals and medical devices sector: pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies producing medicines, medical devices and innovative hygiene products.
- the resource recovery and advanced materials sector: enterprises specializing in recycling, the circular economy and the production of innovative, sustainable materials.
- the eco-construction sector: construction and development companies focused on sustainable construction, including the design and erection of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly buildings.
- the specialized ICT services sector: IT companies offering advanced services in information technology, cybersecurity, cloud computing and big data.
- research and development: research institutes and innovation centers supporting the development of science and technology through advanced research and development work.
- robotization and process automation: companies developing robotics and automation to increase the efficiency of production and services.
- renewable energy sources: enterprises in the renewable energy sector, such as companies working with solar and wind energy, biomass and geothermal energy.
- the creation of high-paying jobs: all the sectors listed could contribute to opening new, well-paid jobs, offering stable employment and professional development.
By attracting companies from these sectors, the city can secure its economic future, ensure sustainable development and improve residents’ quality of life.