The Pidhorodnenska community in the Dnipro region has developed and approved an Investment Passport of the community. As part of this process, investment proposals were collected from community entrepreneurs through a questionnaire that was open to any interested entrepreneur. The initiative was implemented within the framework of the project “Strengthening Democratic Processes in Territorial Communities”, implemented by the Centre for Innovation Development.
The survey collected 18 project ideas from 20 community entrepreneurs. All the data is visualised on an interactive dashboard, which allows for easy analysis of the results. Among the entrepreneurs were both individual entrepreneurs and legal entities, which are represented in equal shares ( 50% each) . The vast majority of enterprises (75%) employ up to 10 people, which underscores the importance of small businesses for the community economy.
62.5% of the proposed projects are entrepreneurial initiatives, while social projects account for 37.5%. In terms of territorial distribution, the majority of initiatives (62.5%) are focused on the development of the entire community, while other ideas focus on Pidhorodne or nearby villages such as Spaske.
88.9% of the projects have already received support from the community, which demonstrates the high level of involvement of local authorities. Most of the projects are planned to be implemented in the next 1-2 years (81.3%), while others are designed for a longer period of up to 4 years.
Among the proposed projects, the following ideas are the most innovative:
- creation of the digital platform “VLASNI&KLASSNI” for collaboration between producers and processors;
- construction of a full/closed-cycle logistics terminal;
- construction of a waste processing complex with the ability to recycle waste into biofuel;
- creation of a company for 3-D printing of residential buildings;
- creation of a cattle slaughterhouse;
- creation of “green fields” (solar stations) for alternative energy, etc.
These initiatives demonstrate the diversity of community development areas, including energy conservation, cultural and social projects, as well as innovative solutions in construction and production.
Entrepreneurs rated the business environment in the community at 2.95 points out of 5. This indicates some challenges, but the community is already working to overcome them by promoting entrepreneurship.
Regarding investment plans, 40% of entrepreneurs do not plan to invest in the development of their businesses in the near future. At the same time, 25% plan to invest this year, and 15% – in 2025. In terms of relocation, 75% of entrepreneurs do not plan to move their businesses outside the community, which indicates the stability of the local business environment.
The results of the survey are available on the INTERACTIVE DASHBOARD, which allows you to conveniently analyse business proposals and plans for community development.
The Community Investment Passport is available at the link: https://pidgorodne.otg.dp.gov.ua/storage/app/sites/92/uploaded-files/pasportpidgorodnenskoitg-1.pdf
The development of an investment passport is an important step in attracting investors and partners, which creates the preconditions for community development. In the future, the Hromada plans to actively seek donors and investors, and negotiations are already underway with potential partners for some projects.
By supporting innovative projects, engaging local entrepreneurs, and creating conditions for investment, the Pidhorodnenska community demonstrates its readiness for change and further growth. This approach will not only ensure economic stability but also increase the community’s competitiveness by attracting new investors and partners.
For reference: The creation of this material was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with the support of the Democratic Governance in Eastern Ukraine project. These opinions and conclusions are those of the Innovation Development Centre and do not necessarily reflect the position or views of USAID or the United States Government. Other partners may not agree with these conclusions.