SALDUS MUNICIPALITY

Saldus, 2015

General DescriptionArea -1683.3 km² Population – (1.07.2014.) – 26 933

Geographical LocationTerritory of the municipality is crossed by the national significance gas pipe-line, high voltage electricity line, highway and railway lines.

Administrative DivisionSaldus town and 15 rural territories BUT 13 administrations of rural territories.

Administrative CentreSaldus is the administrative centre of Saldus municipality. There is no separate administration for the town. Population of Saldus is 11 576, territory of Saldus town covers 10.1 km2.

SymbolsCoat of armsFlag

Council of Saldus Municipality

Council consists of 17 local politicians elected from:

•«Reģionu alianse» ( The Regional Alliance) - 5;•«Vienotība» (Unity) - 4;•«Zaļo un Zemnieku savienība» ( Union of Greens and Farmers) - 4;•«Latvijas sociāldemokrātiskā strādnieku partija» (Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party) - 2;•«Visu Latvijai» – «Tēvzemei un Brīvībai LNNK» (For Fatherland and Freedom /LNNK) - 1;•«Reformu partija» (Reform Party) - 1.

Executive GovernmentIndra Rassa – chairperson Didzis Konuševskis – deputy chairpersonMāris Zusts – deputy chairperson responsible for development issues

Committees: Finance committee;Development committee; Committee for social, education and culture issues;Territory committee.

Administration of Municipality

• Executive manager;• Deputy executive managers;• Administrative division;• Development division; • Finance division; • Domestic division;• Registry office; • Educational board; • Municipal police;• Auditor.

Municipality ServicesENTERPRISES

• SIA „ Saldus namu pārvalde” (municipal house management);• SIA „Saldus komunālserviss” (utilities office);• SIA „Saldus siltums” (heating) ; • SIA „Saldus tirgus” (market) ; • SIA "Saldus medicīnas centrs” (medicine centre).

AGENCIES:• Municipal agency „Social office”;• Municipal agency „Saldus tourism information, culture and sport centre”; • Municipal agency „Saldus Radio”.

INSTITUTIONS:• Pre-school education institutions;• Schools;• Children and youth centres;• Libraries;• Culture centres; • Museum; • Old aged home;• Day centres;• Orphans court;• Board of buildings.

Education Institutions• Pre-school education institutions – 10;

• Education institutions with pre-school groups – 14;

• General education institutions – 18;

• Interest education institutions – 2;

• Education institutions with professional focus – 4;

• Vacational school– 1 (subordinate to education ministry).

Culture• Culture centre;

• Culture houses;

• J. Rozentāls Saldus History and Art museum;

• Library in Saldus town and in administrative centres of the rural

territories.

Social care• Municipal agency “Social office”;

• Home for elderly and handicaped people “Ābeles”;

• Day centre for people with mental disabilities;

• Social homes;

• Day centres for elderly people, children and youth.

Funding Sources

• Cohesion Fund (CF); • European Regional Development Fund (ERDF);• European Social Fund (ESF);• European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD);• Latvia - Lithuania cross border cooperation programme;• Latvia – Estonia cross border cooperation programme;• EEZ/ Norwegian Financial Mechanism;• Swiss-Latvian cooperation programme;• Soros Foundation – Latvia;• Climate Change Financial Instrument.

Funding Sources- ERDFReconstruction of Robežu Street, reconstruction of the historical centre of Saldus town, reconstruction of Dārza and Celtnieku Streets, reconstruction of the crossing between Kuldīgas and Brīvības Streets, etc.

Funding Sources- ERDF

Adjustment of classrooms and obtaining of equipment for natural science studies, improvement of everyday social skills of children and youth belonging to the risk groups, improvement of teachers’ competitiveness.

Funding Sources- ERDF

• Reconstruction of two schools to adjust the infrastructure and equipment for students with physical handicaps;

• Reconstruction of kindergarten «Pasaciņa».

Funding Sources- CF and ERDF

• Water handling projects – in Saldus town and rural territories;• Reconstruction of Saldus Medicine centre; • Construction of the building for Saldus music and art school.

Funding Sources- ESF• Improvement of teachers’ competitiveness – approx. 323 teachers involved;• Attraction of specialists to improve the capacity of Saldus Municipality (economist,

accountant,territory planner);• Improvement if planning documents in Saldus Municipality (territory planning,

development program, sustainable development strategy);• Establishment of day centres and improvement of social services in Saldus

Municipality.

Funding Sources - EAFRD• Reconstruction of the road Saldus-Pampāļi;• Reconstruction of sport grounds, culture centres, schools, streets and roads; • Exposition hall reconstruction in J. Rozentāla Saldus History and Art museum etc.

Funding SourcesLatvia - Lithuania cross border cooperation programme

• Innovative activities in culture, equipment purchase, environment improvement;• Equipment purchase for Saldus Medicine Centre; • Improvement of the beach on Saldus lake; • Extension of the nature trail in Saldus town.

Funding SourcesSwiss-Latvian cooperation programme

• Project “Expansion of Youth and Initiatives Centre “Šķūnis” for Multifunctional Purposes”;

• Project “Support for Fire Security Measures in Local Government General Education Institutions”.

Funding Sources - OtherSoros Foundation – Latvia Purchase of equipment and organization of activities at remote reorganized schools Climate Change Financial InstrumentEnergy efficiency activities in Secondary School No.2

Support from MunicipalityMunicipality Project Fund, which have four programs -General, youth, culture, co-financing for LEADER projects; Total budget - LVL 26000, max. support LVL 1000.00Recipients – societies and foundations

Support for non-governmental organisations: Max. support – LVL 200.00Recipients –societies and foundations;

Support for energy efficiency projects in apartment houses:Max. support – LVL 3500.00;Recipients – submitters for this activity.

Entrepreneurship in Municipality

• 3363 registred enterprises (19.01.2015.);• Main fields – agriculture, forestry, producing; • Largest enterprises (by turnover):

1) SIA «SALDUS MEŽRŪPNIECĪBA» (forest exploitation);2) SIA «SALDUS CEĻINIEKS» (road building);3) SIA «ZIKO» (fuel trade);

4) SIA «TRANSPORTBETONS MB» (concrete producing); 5) SIA «SALDUS LABĪBA» (crop trade).

Avots: Lursoft data base

Cooperation with Entrepreneurs• Advisory council for entrepreneurs; • Exhibition «Made in Saldus»;• Organizing of Saldus Municipality celebration;• Tourism offer «Sweets Tour»;• Data basis with free real properties in Saldus Municipality for possible investors.

Town Twinning• Lidingö, Sweden;

• Liederbach am Taunus, Germany;

• Villebon-sur-Yvette, France;

• Сeргиев Поcaд, Russia;

• Stargard Szczeciński, Poland;

• Paide, Estonia;

• St. Andrä, Austria;

• Mažeikiai, Lithuania;

• Šilutė, Lithuania;

• Volda, Norway;

• Nevarenai, Lithuania;

• Floreşti, Moldova.

Sweets TourSIA “Saldus pārtikas kombināts” Saldus milk processing factory– milk sweets “The little cow” („Gotiņa”) production process and degustation. Apiary “Kāres”Bee-keeper Jānis Vainovskis – tasting of honey and pollen, casting of wax candles and a day of adventures in apiary during the seasonSIA “Saldus Maiznieks” Baking and tasting of bread, cakes etc. SIA “Matss”Baking and tasting of bread, cakes etc.

Tourism – Historical and Cultural Heritage

Janis Rozentals history and arts museum offers exposition of Janis Rozentals works and highly valued collection of Latvian classic and modern painters - an attractive insight into the history of Saldus.

Tourism – Historical and Cultural Heritage

• St. John’s Lutheran church in Saldus – the oldest building of the town

• Jaunauce manor house – national significance monument of architecture, empire style

Tourism – Historical and Cultural Heritage

• Ruins of Zvārde and Ķērkliņi churches – emotional evidence of WWII and Soviet occupation found in the territory of former military aviation training range, largest in Latvia

• German soldiers cemetery – one of the most popular visitors’ destination in the territory of Saldus municipality

Tourism - NatureThere are lakes, rivers and other water basins.

Traditions – Saldus Municipality Celebration

Since the 2011, celebration happens every year in May.

Traditions –exhibition «Made in Saldus»

Exhibition “Made in Saldus” – opportunity to show the offer, meet the clients and cooperation partners.

Thank You for Attention!