Dęblin’s road to success

Among Dęblin’s assets one finds aviation traditions, location or good transportation accessibility. Nevertheless, its future lies especially with its authorities’ openness to investors and young entrepreneurs.

The Polish Aviation Elite

Dęblin received its municipal rights only in the 1950s. It would be difficult to find somebody who has never heard about it, though, due to the Aviation Officers Training Centre (Polish Air Force Academy at present), established in the interwar period.

„It was an elite unit”, recalls Mr Stanisław, a pensioner from Lublin, whose father graduated from the Aviation Officer Candidate School before the 2nd World War. „Young men from all over the Poland flocked to that school. Thanks to the school every boy knew the location of Dęblin. To graduate from „the School of Eaglets” was the greatest dream of many of them”.

Today the Polish Air Force Academy educates military and civilian students in the areas of piloting and navigation, among others. The school cooperates with air force units, schools and research institutes from all over the country as well as carries out tasks related to the preparation of staff to operate within the structures od NATO.

The aviation tradition has influenced the post-war development of the town. The airport added splendour to Dęblin as well as attracted aviation-related and military investments, for example Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 1 S.A. (Military Aviation Works No. 1 J.S.C.) – Dęblin Branch – providing refurbishment services, repairs of military and civilian aircrafts and their equipment as well as producing rubber components, seals, profiles, pressure lines etc. Another example are Wojskowe Zakłady Inżynieryjne S.A. (Military Engineering Works) whose main activity consists in the refurbishment and modernization of crossing equipment, bridge construction, and the renovation of crawler equipment, dozers and trucks, among others.

A perfect weekend getaway

A great asset of Dęblin is its location. The Town is located in the north-west of the voivodeship of Lublin, in close proximity of the Masovian voivodeship and – a bit further - the capital. This creates the opportunity of attracting investors from Warsaw and its environs. What is also important, Warsaw constitutes a perfect outlet. Event today Dęblin can boast with numerous active companies such as ALLMIZ, a producer of frozen fruit and vegetables, the owner of an ecological processing plant, SANECHEM, a producer of chemical washing-up liquids and disinfectants, AGBO, a producer of caps and scarfs for children and adults marked GRANS® or PROHAN, dealing with plumbing and heating.

Dęblin is located in the proximity of the mouth of the river Wieprz where it flows into Wisła which greatly increases its tourism appeal. Its closer and further environs are well known to canoeists, fishermen and mushroom pickers seeking respite in forests, on rivers and streams.

„It’s a perfect place for a weekend getaway”, decisively state some fishermen from Warsaw, met on wild broads between Puławy and Dęblin. „We’ve been coming here for years. Not only the area is rich in fish, it’s also got beautiful, unspoilt nature. It’s more and more difficult to find such places. Usually we get „koluchy” (brown bullheads), sometimes you can come across a 20-kilo catfish. The wild carp is the most difficult to catch, but sometimes you can chance on a formidable fish of more than 10 kilos.”

Dęblin is also an ideal starting point for people visiting this part of Lubelszczyzna. Within 20-30 kilometres from the town there are such locations as Kazimierz Dolny, known as the Pearl of the Polish Renaissance, Puławy, boasting a magnificent Czartoryski family’s park and palace complex or Czarnolas, inextricably linked to the poet Jan Kochanowski.

Perfect connections

Dęblin has excellent transport connections with Lublin, Warsaw or other Polish towns and cities. It in an essential characteristic from the point of view of the town’s development as it is easy for commuters from neighbouring gminas to travel to their workplaces as well as it facilitates the exchange of goods with other regions.

The Town is located at the crossing of national road no. 48 (Kock –Tomaszów Mazowiecki) and voivodeship road no. 801 (Warsaw – Puławy). 9 km from Dęblin there passes national road no. 17 (Warsaw – Lublin – Hrebenne).

The residents of Warsaw are particularly fond of road no. 801.
„When going to Kazimierz Dolny, we always choose the route upon the river Wisła”, says a couple from Warsaw. „First of all, it is very picturesque. When you travel with small children you can find plenty of places to stop and have some rest. What’s more, we’ve stopped in Dęblin many times to visit the aviation museum (the Museum of Air Forces). Both our sons are the fans”, they add laughing, „We always have dinner in Dęblin at a befriended restaurant offering fantastic fresh food”.

There is another reason why Dęblin is an important road node. In the town there are two road bridges (on Wieprz and Wisła). The latter is especially significant. In the north it is possible to cross the river only near Góra Kalwaria, in the south – in Puławy.

Railway routes crossing Dęblin are also of vital importance. The Warsaw-Lublin-Dorohusk line runs throught the town, while the Dęblin – Pionki-Radom connection starts here. It significantly enhances the town’s accessibility. Similarily to the road network, Dęblin is equipped with two railway bridges (on Wieprz and Wisła).

The great asset of Dęblin in terms of accessibility is the airport. At present, it is mainly used for training purposes, but it may handle tourist, business and, perhaps, passenger and cargo traffic in future.

Comprehensive information on investment plots

Dęblin looks after investors. Tax credits and other incentives for entrepreneurs, the Town Hall’s readiness to assist in investment procedures, an inventory of investment plots are some of many other activities of the Dęblin authorities to attract companies from all over Poland.

The inventory and promotion of investment plots are especially important as entrepreneurs from all over the country may quickly analyse the town’s offer. Plots recorded in the inventory include both real property for sale and for lease. The intended use of plots and facilities varies to a high degree – the construction of houses and apartment blocks, commercial services, holiday resorts, production plants, stockyards, warehouses etc. Some of the plots are not included in the local spatial development plan.

The detailed map of the town investment plots can be found here:http://www.lotniczydeblin.pl/mapa/.
There are several reasons to invest in the town. First of all, an access to technical infrastructure from the offered investment plots. They are located close to sewerage systems, water treatment plants, gas pipelines, electric tractions, water supply systems. Secondly, a high degree of competence of the municipal authorities ensuring comprehensive assistance and advice with regard to the investment process as well as government administration’s goodwill and help. Last, but not least, available and mobile skilled labour and business support institutions in the region.

„Under the project „Fly High in Dęblin” we have constructed a website for investors where you can find the database of Dęblin companies and a multimedia presentation of the town”, explains Beata Siedlecka, the Mayor of Deblin. „Smartphone and tablet users may also download an application with the current investment offer. We have also detailed the procedures so that the interested parties may find all the necessary information about formalities, from the location selection to the completion of an investment”.

Entrepreneurs advise the Mayor

To intensify the cooperation between the self-government and businesses, in October 2014 the Dęblin Council of Entrepreneurs was established. The main objective of this initiative is to secure the economic milieu’s influence over the development of Dęblin’s economic policy and entrepreneurship. The Council’s has undertaken, among other things, to evaluate Dęblin’s development strategies, long-term investment plans and economic programmes. The Council also have a voice in the creation of local spatial development plans and their changes as well as the right to propose in economic matters concerning Dęblin.

The Council’s task is to indicate to the Mayor entrepreneur-friendly courses of action and decisions concerning the town as businesses create workplaces, invest and pay taxes.

Investing in young entrepreneurs

Dęblin stands a chance of even more dynamic development. Its undisputable assets and commitment to attracting investors from all over the country have already brought tangible benefits. The image of Dęblin is changing. Today, Dęblin does not only mean „the School of Eaglets”. It is a town which is consequently modernized and developed, where the standard of living has been steadily rising and where the residents are offered new workplaces, and investors – a friendly economic environment.
The town also promotes active living among young people. The promotion of entrepreneurship and the local government’s support during and after the investment process are aimed at encouraging young entrepreneurs to see their future in Dęblin.

„We want to help young people start new companies by offering them a place where they’ll be able to develop as well as receive free advice concerning their business activities”, declares Mayor Beata Siedlecka.

Project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Regional Operational Programme for Lubelskie Voivodeship