Podkarpackie Region Research Articles

Effect of body weight on disability and chronic disease rates in the elderly in south-eastern Poland.

The rapid aging of the human population is an increasing challenge to public health. Effective strategies are required to prevent disability and dependency of the elderly. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of body weight on the prevalence of disability and chronic diseases among 60-80-year-old people living in south-eastern Poland. The study included 1,800 randomly selected people aged 60-80 years living in the Podkarpackie region of south-eastern Poland. Respondents, holders of a - personal identification number (PESEL), were randomly drawn by the Ministry of Interior and Administration (MSWiA) in Poland. The study was conducted in the form of a face-to-face interview at the respondent's residence. The WHODAS 2.0 questionnaire was used to assess disability and functioning. Socio-demographic data were also collected, and the body weight measured in 5% of the respondents after completion of the study. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 10. Respondents with Body Mass Index (BMI) < 18.5 and BMI ≥ 35.0 had significantly higher disability levels than those in the normal weight and overweight categories. The greatest limitations were found in participating in everyday life, household activities, getting along and mobility. There was also a statistically significant relationship between BMI and the number of chronic diseases (p < 0.001). When planning a healthcare strategy for people aged 60 -80 living in Poland, additional support should be provided to those at risk in the categories of underweight and obesity. The obtained findings indicate that the health behaviour of seniors should be assessed - especially regarding their diet and eating habits, physical activity, and participation in social life - in order to tailor prevention programmes specifically to their needs.

Innovation, inter-organizational relation, and co-operation between enterprises in Podkarpacie region in Poland

Abstract Research background: Innovation of enterprises continues to be conditional upon many exogenous and endogenous factors among which of crucial importance are inter-organizational relations understood as the relations of enterprises with other entities from the business environment. The aforementioned relations have become the subject of interest in numerous scientific areas, including management sciences. The issue of creating innovations by inter-organizational cooperation is of top importance. Cooperation with business associates could become an answer to challenges of an enterprise facing the need to possess resources and to develop potential in order to implement new business solutions.Purpose of the article: The purpose of this article is to present connections between inter-organizational relations, innovation and cooperation between enterprises operating in Podkarpackie region in Poland.Methodology: The paper uses empirical studies, carried out among enterprises from SME sector in the Podkarpackie region in Poland. It presents the intensity and level of cooperation between these firms and external entities in terms of the implementation of innovative practices.Outcome: the article points to possibilities of sharing experiences and implementing innovations based on cooperation between enterprises. It proves that the effective innovative operations is a tool of increasing the level of innovation of enterprises from SME sector in the Podkarpackie region in Poland.

TEN INDICATORS WHICH CHARACTERIZE MEDICAL-DEMOGRAPHIC PROCESSES IN ADJACENT REGIONS OF UKRAINE AND POLAND

Introduction: Medical-demographic processes are one of the main signs of life quality, the level of socio-economic development of society. The aim of the work is to compare and evaluate the medical-demographic processes in the two neighboring regions of neighboring countries, due to their geographical proximity, the ratio of the size of the territories and the population. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on the basis of official statistics published by the State Statistics Service of Ukraine and the Main Department of Statistics in Poland, the depth of the research - 2008-2017, the scope of the study - Lviv region of Ukraine and the Podkarpackie region of Poland. The system approach, demographic and medical-statistical methods were used in the work. Review: In both territories the population aging is going on, illustrated by indicators such as the age structure of the population, the level of demographic load and the average age of the population. Data on population reproduction in both regions is narrowed, indicating a prevalence of mortality over births. The average life expectancy in the Podkarpackie region is higher and has a tendency for further growth. In the Lviv oblast, the average life expectancy is also growing, due to the positive trend towards a decrease in overall mortality, but is offset by a decline in fertility and high infant mortality and mortality rates, especially from circulatory system pathology. Conclusions: The analysis of our 10 indicators showed the heterogeneity of medical and demographic processes in the two neighboring regions of neighboring countries, despite their geographical proximity, the ratio of the size of the territories and the population.

Assessment of disability and incidence of chronic diseases in employed and unemployed people aged 60–70 years living in Poland: a cross-sectional study

Purpose. This study aimed to compare the level of disability and occurrence of chronic diseases in employed and unemployed people aged 60–70 years living in the society in the southeastern part of Poland (Podkarpackie region). Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study of 1000 randomly selected people (aged 60–70 years) was performed. The World Health Organization disability assessment schedule questionnaire and a metric questionnaire were used. Results. Only 9.20% of people were employed, more often men and those with tertiary/vocational education. The level of disability was significantly lower in employed people than in unemployed people (p = 0.023). There were significant differences in favor of employed people concerning mobility (p < 0.001), participation in social life (p = 0.002), ability to perform normal household activities (p = 0.006) and self-service activities (p = 0.026). Unemployed people showed increased times of incapacity for their usual activities/work compared to employed people. Conclusions. In Poland, people aged 60–70 years who remain in the labor market have lower levels of disability, fewer chronic diseases, tertiary education (or vocational education) and higher income levels than those who are unemployed.

Quality of life and related factors among older people living in rural areas in south-eastern Poland.

Quality of life (QOL) is an important aspect of life, reflecting health and conditioning the well-being of older adults. Maintaining the QOL is essential in times of demographic changes which resulting longer life spans, and consequently an increased proportion of older adults in society. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life and its basic determining factors in the elderly living in rural areas of south-eastern Poland. The study was conducted on 973 respondents aged 60-80 years living in rural areas of south-eastern Poland (Podkarpackie Region). The research tool used in the study was the WHOQOL-Bref and a questionnaire on personal characteristics and health. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica version 10. All quality of life domains assessed were above the median values of the scale. The highest values were found in the social domain (67.35 ± 17.31) and the lowest values in the physical domain (58.74 ± 14.80). All the quality of life values decreased with an increase in age and increase in number of chronic diseases in a given person. A higher quality of life was found in subjects who were physically and socially active. The study stresses the impact of modifiable determiners of QOL. Interventions aimed at improving the quality of life of older adults should involve interdisciplinary monitoring of health, early treatment of diagnosed problems, and promotion of physical activity and daily life activities.

Determinants of Creative Capital Development at a Local Level: Case Study Municipalities of Podkarpackie, Poland

Although it is highly controversial, the concept proposed by R. Florida has an interesting and important feature, visible from a time perspective. Indeed, the theory of creative class started research into economic development based on creativity. Generally, there are no empirical studies focusing on these issues at the local level. The present study is an attempt to identify determinants of local development and to assess municipalities from the viewpoint of creative capital engagement. To achieve this the study analysed opinions acquired from representatives of municipal offices and representatives of local populations across Podkarpackie, one of the 16 regions of Poland. The findings show that municipalities of the Podkarpackie Region vary in terms of determinants for creative capital development.

SMEs innovativeness and institutional support system: the local experiences in qualitative perspective. Polish case study

Research background: Many contemporary empirical studies and most economic growth theories recognize the importance of innovation as one of the most progressive determinants of socio-economic growth, both in the regional and local perspective. However, much of the empirical literature has discussed the issue of innovativeness and institutional environment without the significant results for small enterprises, especially in peripheral regions.&#x0D; Purpose of the article: The aim of this paper is to evaluate the institutional support system and its impact on SME innovativeness in Podkarpackie region. In analyzing this case, we raise the following two questions: (1) what are the types of innovation strategies of SMEs in Podkarpackie? (2) what are the factors affecting innovation and potential barriers to further use of institutional support systems aimed at the implementation of innovation in enterprises?&#x0D; Methods: Based on the empirical research, we have analyzed the data (individual in-depth interviews) and found out how the entrepreneurs, R&amp;D, business environment institutions, regional and local authorities assess the use of programs and projects dedicated to innovation in the scope of the institutional support system and what are the barriers encountered by entrepreneurs that limit the implementation of innovation.&#x0D; Findings &amp; Value added: The results of our research show that institutional sup-port systems mitigate negative consequences of peripheral localization of the enterprises, where specific innovation strategy has no influence on SME assessment of innovation effectiveness. Innovation is too costly, and SMEs are too weak in peripheral regions, therefore there is great need for reasonable and flexible institutional support systems. However, the peripheral situation influences this institutional system itself, strengthening the mechanisms of self-censorship.

SMEs innovativeness and institutional support system: the local experiences in qualitative perspective. Polish case study

Research background: Many contemporary empirical studies and most economic growth theories recognize the importance of innovation as one of the most progressive determinants of socio-economic growth, both in the regional and local perspective. However, much of the empirical literature has discussed the issue of innovativeness and institutional environment without the significant results for small enterprises, especially in peripheral regions.&#x0D; Purpose of the article: The aim of this paper is to evaluate the institutional support system and its impact on SME innovativeness in Podkarpackie region. In analyzing this case, we raise the following two questions: (1) what are the types of innovation strategies of SMEs in Podkarpackie? (2) what are the factors affecting innovation and potential barriers to further use of institutional support systems aimed at the implementation of innovation in enterprises?&#x0D; Methods: Based on the empirical research, we have analyzed the data (individual in-depth interviews) and found out how the entrepreneurs, R&amp;D, business environment institutions, regional and local authorities assess the use of programs and projects dedicated to innovation in the scope of the institutional support system and what are the barriers encountered by entrepreneurs that limit the implementation of innovation.&#x0D; Findings &amp; Value added: The results of our research show that institutional sup-port systems mitigate negative consequences of peripheral localization of the enterprises, where specific innovation strategy has no influence on SME assessment of innovation effectiveness. Innovation is too costly, and SMEs are too weak in peripheral regions, therefore there is great need for reasonable and flexible institutional support systems. However, the peripheral situation influences this institutional system itself, strengthening the mechanisms of self-censorship.

Beyond clusters? Field configuration and regional platforming: the Aviation Valley initiative in the Polish Podkarpackie region

Beyond clusters? Field configuration and regional platforming: the Aviation Valley initiative in the Polish Podkarpackie region

Analysis of Chronic Illnesses and Disability in a Community-Based Sample of Elderly People in South-Eastern Poland.

BackgroundThe proportion of elderly people living in Poland has risen in recent years. With rising life expectancy, there is likely to be a concurrent increase in the incidence of chronic diseases and disabilities. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the prevalence of chronic diseases and disability of the elderly in order to help guide strategies of prevention and public health control.Material/MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 1,000 randomly-selected residents living in the Podkarpackie region of Poland. The WHODAS 2.0 questionnaire was used to assess the disability and functioning of the participants across six domains of functioning using the following scores: no disability (0–4%), mild disability (5–24%), moderate disability (25–49%), severe disability (50–95%), and extreme disability (96–100%).ResultsThe presence of at least one chronic disease was identified in 84.1% of participants. The most common diseases were: circulatory diseases (59.10%), spinal pain syndromes (51.50%), degenerative joint diseases (50.30%), and rheumatic diseases (23.90%). Severe or extreme disability was found in 8.46% of patients with circulatory disease, 9.32% of patients with spinal pain syndromes, 9.34% of patients with degenerative joint diseases, and 12.13% of patients with rheumatic diseases.ConclusionsBased on our findings, we recommend an emphasis be placed on early diagnosis of chronic diseases. We also recommend implementing methods of primary and secondary prevention aimed at reducing or eliminating disability resulting from chronic diseases. Our research highlights the need to plan targeted support and prevention programs using strategies that optimize social participation of older people with various chronic diseases.

Socio-Demographic Factors and Health-Oriented Behaviors of University Students in the Podkarpackie Region. Long-Term Prospective Research

The aim of the study was to achieve a prospective long-term evaluation of the impact of socio-demographic factors on students, and their healthy behaviors. It was a diagnostic survey employing a standardized interview questionnaire. The survey was conducted among 905 first-year students of medical and non-medical faculties (18–19 years of age), and the University of Rzeszów, and Rzeszów University of Technology. It was conducted in 2009 and repeated two years later. The rating of the behavior patterns of students was conducted in accordance with the following schedule: October 2009 – January 2010 (T1), October 2011 – January 2012 (T2). The level of healthy behaviors in 2012 increased significantly in a positive direction compared to 2009 (p &lt; 0,001), in particular in the category: proper eating habits (p &lt; 0,001) and preventive behaviors (p &lt; 0,001). In 2009 men in the first year of the study had a lower level of healthy behaviors, an average of 3,63 points, than women (T1) and in 2012 of 5,42 points lower (T2). The level of healthy behaviors in 2012 increased significantly in a positive direction compared to 2009, in particular in the category: proper eating habits and preventive behaviors. Women showed more pro-health attitudes than men. The pro-health attitudes characterized by medical students was seen in a greater degree.

Ocena zależności pomiędzy poziomem aktywności fizycznej a ryzykiem wystąpienia upadku oraz depresją u osób w wieku 60–75 lat mieszkających na terenie województwa podkarpackiego

ENWEndNote BIBJabRef, Mendeley RISPapers, Reference Manager, RefWorks, Zotero AMA Wołoszyn N, Wiśniowska-Szurlej A, Sozański B. An assessment of the relationship between the level of physical activity and the risk of falls and depression in elderly adults aged 60 - 75 years from the Podkarpackie region. Advances in Rehabilitation. 2018;32(2):41-48. doi:10.5114/areh.2018.77936. APA Wołoszyn, N., Wiśniowska-Szurlej, A., & Sozański, B. (2018). An assessment of the relationship between the level of physical activity and the risk of falls and depression in elderly adults aged 60 - 75 years from the Podkarpackie region. Advances in Rehabilitation, 32(2), 41-48. https://doi.org/10.5114/areh.2018.77936 Chicago Wołoszyn, Natalia, Agnieszka Wiśniowska-Szurlej, and Bernard Sozański. 2018. "An assessment of the relationship between the level of physical activity and the risk of falls and depression in elderly adults aged 60 - 75 years from the Podkarpackie region.". Advances in Rehabilitation 32 (2): 41-48. doi:10.5114/areh.2018.77936. Harvard Wołoszyn, N., Wiśniowska-Szurlej, A., and Sozański, B. (2018). An assessment of the relationship between the level of physical activity and the risk of falls and depression in elderly adults aged 60 - 75 years from the Podkarpackie region. Advances in Rehabilitation, 32(2), pp.41-48. https://doi.org/10.5114/areh.2018.77936 MLA Wołoszyn, Natalia et al. "An assessment of the relationship between the level of physical activity and the risk of falls and depression in elderly adults aged 60 - 75 years from the Podkarpackie region." Advances in Rehabilitation, vol. 32, no. 2, 2018, pp. 41-48. doi:10.5114/areh.2018.77936. Vancouver Wołoszyn N, Wiśniowska-Szurlej A, Sozański B. An assessment of the relationship between the level of physical activity and the risk of falls and depression in elderly adults aged 60 - 75 years from the Podkarpackie region. Advances in Rehabilitation. 2018;32(2):41-48. doi:10.5114/areh.2018.77936.

Rozwój elektronicznej administracji w województwie podkarpackim w perspektywie finansowej 2007–2013

The overview of research on the development of the information society has indicated that (at the beginning of EU’s 2007–2013 financial perspective) both Poland and Podkarpackie Province were rated very low in the rankings. Therefore, it was desirable to launch all kinds of initiatives to improve the situation. On the one hand, the measures to be taken were supposed to provide access to information and communication technologies (the purchase of equipment, building the access network and the development of public services); on the other hand, they were intended to focus on the demand side associated with an increased awareness of using these technologies. The operational programmes approved by the European Commission formulated tasks giving the opportunity for the development of the information society. The main measures implemented in the Podkarpackie Region were financed from the 3rd priority axis of the Regional Operational Programme of the Podkarpackie Province for 2007–2013, which was aimed at preparing the ICT infrastructure of public entities by implementation of systems enabling efficient management and supply of necessary services to inhabitants. As part of the 3rd priority axis of ROP PP 2007–2013, 60 agreements on co-financing were concluded for implementation of projects with the value of 348 512 876,19 PLN. As regards the development of information society in the region, two key projects should be given special attention, i.e. the Podkarpackie Public e-Administration System (PSeAP) and the Medical Information System in Podkarpackie (PSIM). What has to be particularly stressed is a large impact of the implemented projects on the development of electronic services in the Podkarpackie Province, particularly in the areas of administration and healthcare. It is also worth emphasizing that the majority of the introduced public e-services was not available earlier in the region, and the current infrastructure ranks Podkarpackie Province among more developed regions of the EU in terms of infrastructural development.

Effective Clusters as Territorial Performance Engines in a Regional Development Strategy - A Triple-Layer DEA Assessment of the Aviation Valley in Poland

Regional development policy aims to cope with the challenge of spatial disparities. It is based on a smart combination of various critical capital assets in a region which functionally and spatially interact and which yield synergetic economic opportunities and promising challenges for innovation and progress. The present study regards sustainable territorial performance – as a manifestation of regional development – as the overarching principle for competitive advantages and economic growth in a system of regions, which is particularly induced by territorial capital, comprising human capital, infrastructural capital and social capital. In the long-standing tradition of regional development policy a wide variety of effective facilitators or drivers of accelerated spatial growth has been distinguished, for instance, industrial districts, growth poles, growth centers, industrial complexes, special economic zones, communication axes, and so forth. In the past decades, a new concept has been introduced, viz. economic-technological clusters. An avalanche of literature has been published on the conceptual, operational and policy foundation and relevance of this concept, especially in relation to previously developed regional growth concepts. In this paper, clusters will be regarded as the spatial foci of sustainable territorial performance strategies and synergetic actions by both public and private actors. The present paper aims to address the relevance of cluster concepts for an effective regional development policy, based on the above notion of territorial capital. It does so by introducing a new concept, viz. effective cluster, in which spatial-economic synergy, local/regional concentration of industry, and the supporting role of territorial capital are regarded as the main determinants of a highly performing cluster in a given territory. The effective cluster concept will be tested on the basis of a field study on the aviation and aerospace cluster ‘Dolina Lotnicza’ in the Podkarpackie region in South-East Poland. This is one of the most vibrant high-tech clusters in thecountry. A new approach based on a triple-layer architecture will be adopted here, viz.: a quantitative comparative analysis of the 16 Polish ‘voivodships’ (main administrative regions in the country, at a NUTS-2 level), a benchmark analysis of the 25 counties (‘powiats’) within the Podkarpackie voivodship (at a NUTS-4 level), and an effective industrial cluster analysis on the basis of the individual aviation firms located in the Podkarpackie region. In each step an extended Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), characterised by a merger of a Slack-Based Measure (SMB) and a super-efficiency (SE) DEA, will be used in order to achieve an unambiguous ranking of the various regions or Decision Making Units (DMUs). The study will employ an extensive database on individual actors in the cluster, in combination with a broadly composed territorial-capital database for the areas under study. The paper will be concluded with some strategic policy lessons.

Gazele biznesu jako probierz poziomu rozwoju gospodarczego aktualnych i potencjalnych ośrodków wzrostu w województwie podkarpackim

&lt;p&gt;Wiele badań analizując poziom rozwoju nie odwołuje się wprost do stopnia rozwoju działalności motorycznych, lecz raczej do efektów ich funkcjonowania. W niniejszej pracy uznano, że istotną rolę jako działalności motoryczne pełnią dynamiczne małe i średnie firmy, a ich wewnątrzwojewódzkie zróżnicowanie aktywności może być desygnatą pełnionej przez dane miasto roli ośrodka wzrostu. Stąd niniejsza praca ma dwa główne cele: metodyczny – określenie możliwości wykorzystania zróżnicowanego stopnia aktywności małych i średnich przedsiębiorstw do diagnozowania poziomu i dynamiki rozwoju oraz poznawczy – zbadanie poziomu zróżnicowania aktywności dynamicznych i potencjalnie innowacyjnych podmiotów gospodarczych w średnich i dużych miastach województwa podkarpackiego. Badanie ujawniło silne zróżnicowanie średnich i dużych miast w regionie w zakresie liczby dynamicznych małych i średnich firm (gazel biznesu) oraz tempa powstawania potencjalnie innowacyjnych działalności gospodarczych. Wszystkie uwzględnione w analizie techniki określenia poziomu rozwoju gospodarczego i jego dynamiki wskazują na silną i rosnącą pozycję Rzeszowa jako regionalnego ośrodka wzrostu. Świadczy to o rosnącej roli procesów metropolizacyjnych nawet w przypadku słabo zurbanizowanego województwa, z relatywnie małym – w porównaniu do największych miast Polski – ośrodkiem wojewódzkim.&lt;/p&gt;

A Comparative Study of Metal Content in Selected Polish and Romanian Honey Samples

The aim of the study was to compare the heavy metal contamination and study the mineral content of Polish and Romanian honeys. We used Polish varietal honeys (n=18) produced in the year 2013-2014 in ecologically clean Podkarpackie region, and Romanian honeys (n=36) from Bihor district produced in 2013. The heavy metals concentration as well as mineral composition of honey was assayed by ICP-OES method with prior microwave mineralization. The cadmium and lead level in tested Polish honeys ranged from 0.007 to 0.021mg/kg and 0.02 to 0.098 mg/kg, respectively. Cadmium was not detected in Romanian honeys, and the lead contamination was lower than in Polish honey (0.018-0.05 mg/kg). Mercury was not detected in any tested honey samples. The aluminum content in Polish honeydew honeys was 34.6-times higher than in Romanian honeys. Honey samples from Poland were richest in potassium (2.5-fold for honeydew, lime and acacia, excluding heather), but they included less calcium. Generally, dark honeys include the highest mineral concentration and are more contaminated by heavy metals. However, all tested samples met the legal requirements for heavy metals residues. The geographical origin and soil composition strongly influenced honey chemical composition and the crucial factor for heavy metal transfer seems to be soil pH.

Aktywność turystyczna podkarpackiej młodzieży jako źródło wspomagania jej rozwoju osobowego

Tourism is one of the forms of human activity which has special importance for the progress of personality, self-education and preparing man for performing a variety of social roles, functions and duties. Tourism, like any other sphere of activity, provides the chance to integrate the educational influences of the family, school, non-school educational institutions, and informal peer group, and, most importantly, self-activity of the participants. Participation in tourism is more and more often understood as education for the mental, physical and cultural progress of man, education for the evolution of the needs in personal life from the passive to an active, creative, self-realization, with the physical, mental and social welfare of everyone taken into account. This value of tourist activity has been indicated by many researchers as can be seen in the literature of the subject which details number of associations, especially for children and young people, which have an impact on their physical and psychological development. For the purposes of this study, it was decided to diagnose whether tourist activity is a resource and a way to improve themselves for young people in secondary schools in the Podkarpackie region. Efforts were made to find answers to the following questions: Do young people see the benefits of tourism, both for their mental and physical development? Should tourist trips affect the evolution of their knowledge and skills? Can tourism be a way to prevent the bad behavior which is common among young people in their daily lives (during their free time)?

Distribution and dynamics of development of small and medium-sized enterprises as a method of determining the growth centres. Example of Podkarpackie Region

Distribution and dynamics of development of small and medium-sized enterprises as a method of determining the growth centres. Example of Podkarpackie Region

The analysis of the hydropower potential in Podkarpackie Voivodship

The paper presents an analysis of the use and potential of hydropower in Podkarpackie (Subcarpathian) Voivodship. The current usage of hydropower in the Region is presented, divided for range of generated power, geographical location and given rivers. Existing and planned artificial water reservoirs are taken into consideration in frame of hydropower development in the Region. Selected case studies related to varied hydropower plants are discussed. Problems connected with development of the hydropower were identified and considered. For each county in the Region theoretical available power possible to install in the main rivers was indicated, taking into account environmental aspects, technical problems with connection to the electrical grid and overall possibility of the facility installation. For each county communities with the best favorable situation are indicated. It is discussed the analysis of the evaluation of the use of hydropower in Podkarpackie Voivodship and provided information on planned and considered investments in hydropower plants. In addition, an analysis of the energy potential of the main rivers of the Podkarpackie Region have been procced to indicating the most favorable areas for location of hydropower plants. Moreover, given the environmental conditions, an analysis of the power estimation of the hydropower plants were made.

Wykorzystanie funduszy UE w ramach perspektywy 2007–2013 a możliwości pozyskania środków w ramach perspektywy 2014–2020 na przykładzie wybranej gminy z województwa podkarpackiego

The article aims to present and evaluate the use of EU funds in the 2007–2013 financial perspective and the possibility of applying for funds within the financial perspective 2014–2020 by the local government units on the example of the Podkarpackie Province. In the article was presented the state of using EU funds in Poland and assumed material project indicators throughout the Regional Operational Programme of the Podkarpackie Region for 2007–2013 by local government units. This made possible to assess the merits of the projects. The article shows the possibility of obtaining funds by local governments in the financial perspective 2014–2020. Since the launch of the program since 29 May 2016 were submitted 302.4 thousand applications for the total amount 616 million zl. In the same period was signed with beneficiaries 106 361 grant agreements for the amount of funding part of the EU 285.1 million zl, which represents 100.7% of the allocation for 2007–2013. The value of the expenditure in the EU co-financing of eligible applications for payments amounted to 283.1 billion zl. Founded output and result indicators have mostly been achieved. The article summarizes the investments carried out by the Community Kamien with the participation of refinancing from the EU funds, as also mentioned other grants, programs and funds, which were benefited. Aggregated financial data on investments were summarized from the budget of the Commune. The article also identifies the barriers associated with applying for the EU funds e.g. the limited budget of a local government, the fear of potential beneficiaries about the obligations in the regulations and the grant agreement.