RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The name "Swietokrzyska" refers its name to the Central- Eastern part of Poland, one of the oldest historic areas belonging to Poland. From the Middle Ages, the Swietokrzyskie region has been the largest industrial district on Polish soil and a major economic region in Europe; and,
WHEREAS, After the economic crisis in the late nineteenth / twentieth century and after World War I, there was a degradation of the industry and a great migration to America. Most of the inhabitants of the province of Swietokrzyskie immigrated to America, primarily to Chicago creating a very large group of Polish immigrants in the city. Another exodus of residents of the Swietokrzyskie Region took place after the end of World War II and during the martial law in Poland in the years 1980-1989. Due to a large group of Poles living in Chicago, new immigrants decided to also move to Chicago. In the Swietokrzyskie region, each household has at least one family member who is or was a resident of Chicago; and,
WHEREAS, Presently the region Swietokrzyskie is dominated by agricultural-food industry, tourism and healing. It also still continues the former metal industry (steelworks, metallurgy, rolling mill Ostrowiec), including arms Mesko Skarzysko- production of missiles "Patriot"), automotive (Starachowice- the world's largest industry of manufacturing the car MAN). In the Special Economic Zone in Starachowice there are many American companies such as RR Donnelly of Chicago and Smithfield Foods Incorporated; and,
WHEREAS, Contemporary relations between Chicago with the Region Swietokrzyskie are very strong and intense. It is in the capital of the region, Kielce, The Office of Pegasus represents the Polish-American Business Organizations from the US on Polish territory, including: Polish American Contractor Builders Association, working with the Polish American Chamber of Commerce of Chicago, Chicago Business Centre Club and other organizations. In Chicago, Club of Friends of Swietokrzyskie, whose members are residents of the "Windy City" who originally come from the region of Kielce; and,
WHEREAS, In the past 10 years Pegasus organized more than 30 Economic Missions from the Swietokrzyskie region to Chicago, where participants took part in many trade fairs in the McCormick Place, in the Exhibition Centre in Rosemont and in many other conferences and seminars (over 500 companies); and,
WHEREAS, Relations between Chicago and the Region Swietokrzyskie are still developing and have a high potential for further development and cooperation in the field of business, science, culture, education and tourism; and,
WHEREAS, The adoption of the name "Swietoktrzyska" is an expression of respect and consideration for the citizens of Chicago, whose roots originate from this region and the recognition of the historical and current contribution to the Swietokrzyskie region and its people in building friendly relations between the Swietokrzyskie Region and the State of Illinois; and now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this 1*' day of November 2016 AD do hereby express our congratulations and best wishes to all members of the Swietokrzyskie community; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to a representative of the Swietokrzyskie region.