Shpola Territorial Community

History

Shpola was mentioned for the first time in documents of 1594. In the 18th century, the town was part of the Zvenyhorod Starostat of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The origin of the name is associated with a hollow that was here and served as a natural border between the steppe and the forest-steppe. The Poles called this area Vspolje, which was later transformed into Shpolje, Shpola.

Later, the remains of Trypillian culture and Scythian mounds were found near the village. On the territory of one of the villages of the community, there are still six unexplored burials of the Scythian era and the Haydamachy Yar tract.

The development of industry in the community began in 1812. Gradually, a linen factory, a steam mill, a mechanical workshop, a railway station, a post office, a telegraph, a sugar factory, and a hospital appeared here.

On the territory of the modern community, an architectural monument of the 19th century – the Abazi Palace – has been preserved. Granite, marble, and lead were used in its construction. It had water supply, sewage and gas lighting inside back then.

Another landmark of garden and park art is the Lozuvatka Arboretum. 264 species of trees and exotic bushes grow here on 15 hectares.

In 2021, on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine, the art object “Heart of Ukraine” was opened in the Shpola community. The complex consists of 25 pairs of wings that symbolize all regions of Ukraine and the Republic of Crimea. White steel wings are decorated with ornaments typical of each region, and in the center of the complex is a heart sculpture under glass. The area of the complex is almost 5 thousand square meters, and the height is over 5 meters. 

 Economy and Welfare

Agriculture plays a key role in the economy of the Shpola community. The community is among the region’s three leaders in the cultivation of grain, leguminous and industrial crops.

The second focus is processing industry: production of cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery; production of meat products; production of bread and bakery products; forming and processing of sheet glass.

There is LNZ Group, an agro-industrial holding on the territory of the community. It includes 47 agricultural companies, seed factories, elevators, logistics centers and a customs warehouse. The company specializes in the trade of seed material and plant protection products, the cultivation of grain and technical crops, animal husbandry and grain trading. It cultivates 83,000 hectares of land and employs over 3,000 people per season.

The Shpola grocery factory was founded in 1944. It is here that Ukraine’s first potato wafer chips were made. Now the enterprise has 6 workshops and specializes in the production of food products and processing of agricultural products.

Since 2021, the Avuar plant has been operating on the territory of the community, where frozen vegetables, fruits and berries are produced using IQF (Individual Quick Freezing) shock freezing technology. The company has BRC Food Certificated certification and exports products to more than 20 countries around the world. Here, they grow spicy, aromatic and medicinal crops, tropical and subtropical fruits, citrus fruits, berries, nuts, fruit trees, shrubs, and other crops that are not characteristic of the region.

 Community and War

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Shpola community has rallied and actively supported the affected citizens, soldiers, and their family members. Since 2014, the community has become a refuge for many internally displaced persons. Their number reaches over 10% of the indigenous population.

A Center for Humanitarian Aid has been established in the community, where displaced people receive food kits, necessary clothes, shoes, children’s items, hygiene products, etc. for free. 72 places for internally displaced persons have been arranged and equipped.

The townspeople often arrange gatherings and delivery of humanitarian goods to the military, hold charity fairs-concerts, music evenings, sports tournaments, promotions.

The local government has established cooperation with charitable organizations of Ukraine and international foundations, including World Central Kitchen, Solidarites International, Red Cross Society, Caritas, etc. It is constantly working on attracting humanitarian support from domestic enterprises producing food and industrial products.

For technical support of the military, the community cooperates with the “Kryla” charity foundation for war victims. Such cooperation allows for transparent reporting on spent charitable funds, prompt response to the needs of soldiers from the community through the military administration, and control of targeted assignments. On the basis of the Social Services Center, a women’s council was created from among female military personnel.

After the occupiers blew up the Kakhovka HPP, the Shpola community sent building materials and drinking water to the Kherson region. It also became a partner of the village of Ivanivka, Kherson region, where it will deal with the reconstruction of houses that were flooded and destroyed by the enemy.

People of the Community

Now, on the initiative of the head of the community, they are working on the creation of an industrial park. This will create new jobs and attract additional investment to the community.

Under the leadership of Oleh Koshovyi, the town council team joined hands and effectively performs its tasks being united around the team’s common values:

“We do what no one but us can do. It is a responsibility.

We do what will remain after us. This is effectiveness.

We do what is important to people. It is a duty.”

For five years in a row, the children’s festival “Pride of the Community” has been organized here. Its participants are winners and prize-winners of regional, all-Ukrainian and international contests, competitions, festivals, and tournaments. For their achievements, children receive a cash prize from the community budget. The Shpola Town Youth Council is also active.

An extreme rope park – a family business of immigrants from the Kherson region – recently started its operations on the territory of the town park. The park consists of two routes connected by obstacles that are interesting for both children and adults. Both routes are protected by a belay system for safe wire climbing.

The community is the place where creative Ukrainians live
and talented young people grow. By visiting the community, you can easily get to the annual festival of the modern dance ensemble “Elite” or the performances of the folk art group “Barvinok” created in 1978. But each event aims to raise funds that help bring Ukraine’s victory closer.

 Development Strategy

The Shpola community has prepared a development strategy for 2021-2027. Its goal is to make the community attractive for investment and tourism.

Before the full-scale invasion, they actively worked here to attract investments, develop business initiatives, and modernize the infrastructure of the community.

In the conditions of martial law, the issues of ensuring the financial stability of the economy, meeting the needs of the security and defense sector, improving the socio-psychological condition of the population, and the prompt provision of high-quality medical services are being resolved as a matter of priority in the community.

Another challenge of the community is to improve the material and technical condition of spaces for common creative work. Here, they strive to create places for the interaction of various representatives of the local community, so they are looking for opportunities to provide them with modern equipment, comfortable furniture, books, devices, office supplies.

The Shpola community has strong internal partnership ties and strives to be an effective driver of change. It is the heart of Ukraine which is open to partner cooperation with other local authorities in the region, the country and the world.

List of Sources

• Official website of the Shpola Town Council of the UTC 
• Official page of the community on Facebook
• Official page of the community on Instagram
• Community Development Strategy
• Online publication PROCHERK Cherkasy
• Official website of the Cherkasy Regional State Administration
• Online publication Landmarks.In.Ua
• Facebook page of the head of the community
• Website of agro-industrial holding “LNZ Group”
• Website of the Berry Growing Association of Ukraine
• Facebook page of the Shpola Grocery Factory 
• Online publication “Local History”
• Online publication “Super-agronomist”