Educational and Cultural Centre “Korobka HUB”

Cost: 1 130 000 EUR

Project in DREAM system

The creation of a modern Youth HUB in Trostyanets city an innovative multifunctional space for non-formal education, entrepreneurship development, civic activity, and cultural leisure. The project aims to provide young people, entrepreneurs, and the community as a whole with quality opportunities for selfdevelopment, gaining new knowledge and skills, starting a business, building an active civic position, and attracting investments, which will support the sustainable social and economic development of the community.

Before the war, the construction of a center for business support, investment attraction, development of the youth movement and development of the territory was started.

As part of the implementation of this project, the following results were achieved:

• topographical and geodetic searches and technical inspection of the premises were carried out
• project design and estimate documentation was developed and its examination was carried out
• purchased furniture for furnishing the public transport center in the amount of UAH 778 845
• purchased computer and network equipment in the amount of UAH 1 170 755
• works on the reconstruction of the object were carried out, including installation of door and window blocks, insulation and decoration of the facade in the amount of UAH 5 242 610 which is 15% of the planned volume of work

35% of construction works in the amount of EUR 154, 8 thousand have already been completed

The premises have large enough rooms for simple use, necessary for creating a coworking space, exhibition and training rooms, conference rooms, a business incubator for up to 10 offices, and a room for training in computer technologies.

It is here that it is planned to create an infrastructure to support business:

• a training center, where interested persons will be able to gain knowledge of the basics of business and the peculiarities of its conduct
• a business incubator, where novice entrepreneurs will be able to obtain specially equipped premises and other property in order to assist them in acquiring financial independence
• an investor service center, which provides local and foreign investors with comfortable conditions for work and recreation: to obtain all the necessary information about the region and interesting objects, about the legislative framework of Ukraine, to hold meetings and negotiations, to use the services of an office manager, a cafe, a recreation room
• information and advisory platforms on credit and financial opportunities, opportunities for developing new markets, including European countries; a computer technology training center, where you can learn to work with a computer and software, get acquainted with the possibilities of e-government, etc.
• a youth space and a conference hall, where you can organize various educational events

An Advisory Center on the prospects for using alternative energy sources will be formed here. As part of the consultation, interested individuals, residents or entrepreneurs, will be able to familiarize themselves with the basic “know-how” of this field of activity and, based on them, start their own business in the field of “green” energy, which is currently quite underdeveloped in the region, has a low competitive environment, but has quite broad prospects for development.

This project idea had been received funding within the framework of the Sectoral Policy Support Program before the full-scaled incursion in 2022, which was implemented by the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine and with the financial support of the European Union.

To complete the implementation of this project, the following activities must be performed:

• completion of the exterior decoration of the facade
• connection of the reconstruction object to the sewage and water supply network
• arrangement of the ventilation system
• arrangement of the power supply system, taking into account the standard connection to the electrical networks of electrical installations
• landscaping
• obtaining a certificate of acceptance into operation of the completed construction object
• search and involvement of experts, consultants and trainers on business development
• purchase of the necessary IT-equipment and facilities
• completion of the reconstruction of the Hub premises
• commissioning of business incubator offices
• launching of an investor service center
• implementation of ongoing educational and qualification programs

Analysis of project risks and measures to eliminate or mitigate them during implementation:

Risks		Probability	Risk minimization strategy
Internal	The risk of exceeding the estimated cost of the project as a result of an increase in current costs, an increase in the price of goods and services, or due to errors at the planning stage.	medium	Careful planning of expenses and a clear understanding of the cost of the project, substantiating the items of expenses during planning. Effective use of financial resources. Properly drawn up contracts with the involvement of lawyers.
	The risk of deviation from the established terms of project implementation	low	Formation of a clear schedule of project implementation with an indication of each of its stages, determination of the planned scope of work to be performed at each stage of the project.
	Risk of subcontractors and suppliers	low	Conclusion of contracts with suppliers and contractors who have the highest ratings.
	Operational risk – associated with the implementation of planned current activities under the project	low	Establishing clear tasks for all project executors and specific parameters for planned works
External	Risk of project participants	low	Formation of clear tasks for project participants and their distribution according to the role of each participant.
	Inflation processes	medium	Conducting tenders in order to determine the most responsible suppliers with the most loyal price policy

Target audience of the project:

• Individuals seeking self-realization in small or medium-sized businesses, approximately 2,000 people. As a result of the implementation of the project, representatives of the specified target group will be able to get opportunities to start their own business initiative.
• Active subjects of entrepreneurial activity, who are looking for ways to diversify their activities, approximately 200 people. As a result of the implementation of the project, representatives of this target group will have the opportunity to master new types of activities, expand the scope of services and geography of activity based on the acquired knowledge and skills.
• The youth of the community, which will receive a new object of cultural and educational importance, approximately 4,500 people.
• Local authorities that aim to solve the problems of small and medium-sized business development, population employment, and human potential development.
• Utilities that will receive new sources of income as a result of servicing the newly created object.
• The local development agency of the Trostyanets urban territorial community, which will receive a resource base for analytical research.

Expected results of the project:

1. An educational and cultural center was created in the format of a public transport hub in Trostyanets city hromada.
2. The infrastructural base for the development of non-formal education in the Sumy region has been formed.
3. The functional components of the educational and cultural center have been put into operation.
4. Functioning of ongoing educational and consulting programs regarding new types of activities, improvement of methods of conducting one’s own business and possibilities of developing new markets.
5. The level of investment and innovation attractiveness of the southern part of the Sumy region has increased.
6. The fundamental base for the further development of business support infrastructure has been formed.
7. Availability of active promotional and incentive programs for the activation of entrepreneurial activity.

Implementation of the project contributes to meeting the needs of both the social and economic spheres of community life, which will give its residents and guests the opportunity to get a modern and comfortable place for education and leisure, and business representatives will have the opportunity to improve their professional skills.

• In turn, the benefit for the community and local authorities from the implementation of the project initiative is as follows:
• improvement of the city’s business climate;
• receiving additional revenues to the budget;
• creation of new jobs;
• creation of a new educational and cultural space.

The project does not envisage the creation of environmentally harmful objects and emissions in the process of implementation. Instead, the use of energy-efficient technologies when arranging the facility’s electrical supply, in particular.