The progress of creating a multifunctional business space in the former Batkivshchyna cinema was showcased in Lutsk
Today, on March 26, the progress of work on the creation of a multifunctional business space was presented in Lutsk at 2 Piatnytska Hirka Street. The space is situated in the former Batkivshchyna cinema, which was built in 1938 and has been in a state of decay in recent years but has gained new life thanks to international donors.
The initiative "Creation of a multifunctional business space in Lutsk" is being implemented within the framework of the project "Support for the Rapid Economic Recovery of Ukrainian Municipalities" (SRER), funded by the German government and implemented by GIZ in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine.
The business space covers 2,000 square meters and consists of a 400-square-meter main event hall with a capacity of 300 people, a multifunctional hall with a coworking area. Part of the building is equipped as workplaces, several conference rooms, and offices.
The task of the business space is to become a platform facilitating communication and cooperation between business, local authorities, and the community. It will create new connections within the business community and will expand its capabilities. The total budget of the project is approximately USD 1.5 million, with the German government contributing USD 900,159.40.
The progress of creating a multifunctional business space
"We don't call it an opening day yet; we just want to show the progress of the work. It's not a complete site yet, and once it's finished, it will look even better. These transformations are indeed remarkable. A few years ago, when we walked into the building and saw its condition, we asked ourselves what would happen next and what was the purpose of its existence? I am very glad that we managed to preserve this building, change it, and give it a new meaning. Thank you to our donors and partners; without your financial support, we would not have been able to implement this project. I would like to thank the contractors of Zhytlobud 2 and our designer Liudmyla Miskiv. The building has a lot of interesting ideas that emphasize the historic nature of the building and at the same time make it functional and very attractive," said Lutsk City Mayor Ihor Polishchuk.
"The German government has funded the development of such a wonderful business community. We hope that soon it will be full of life, and first of all, it will be a great place for business. It is important because the economy is the driving force of the development of society. We would like to thank the project team and city authorities. This project was not only funded with the help of international organizations, but the city also took an active part in its financing. I wish for Lutsk to continue to develop and support the newly created space, and for it to benefit the city," said Valeriia Kolesnichenko, Regional Project Coordinator of GIZ Ukraine.
"This project is special, as it is not only about infrastructure but also about giving communities a boost to development. The results are the site itself, as well as the experience gained during the implementation of the project according to the highest standards. It is a great honor for us to be involved in such projects, and we are ready to support Ukrainian communities in the future," said Mustafa Sait-Ametov, UNDP Ukraine's Regional Development Programme Manager.
"This is not just a building, and it is not just a successful project. Fifteen months in a state of war is a unique timeframe for such a facility. And we ask that you share with other cities not only stories of success but also stories of avoiding mistakes in the implementation of such projects," said Oleksandr Slobozhan, Executive Director of the Association of Ukrainian Cities.
Today, the first two panel discussions took place in the business space. The participants discussed the challenges the Lutsk City Council faced in implementing the project, as well as the specifics of running a business during the war, including cooperation and mutual support between business and government.
The space was created within the framework of the project "Support for Rapid Economic Recovery of Ukrainian Municipalities" (SRER), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine with the support of the international cooperation project ReACT4UA (Implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement in the field of Trade), funded by the German Government and implemented by the German federal company Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
The project partners were:
The all-Ukrainian association of local governments "Association of Ukrainian Cities," which helped to improve the capacity of municipalities and local project teams;
Smart People business school, which helped to mobilize business communities in the project's participating municipalities and is working on strengthening cooperation between local authorities and businesses;
Promprylad Foundation, which worked on operational and development strategies for the infrastructure created within the project.
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