Chamber Welcome 6

About the Chamber 8

Board of Directors & Staff 9

Polish Americans in the U.S. 10

Government & Business Institutions 12

Economic Development 15

Milwaukee Avenue and Polonia 16

Polish - American Economic Relations 18

Poland’s Entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program 21

PACC At A Glance 22

PACC Annual Events 26

Members – Alphabetical 28

Members By Category 31

Member Search 37

Chamber Welcome

On behalf of the Polish American Chamber of Commerce (PACC) and its board of directors, I am very proud to present this new edition of our Business Directory and Resource Guide.

As a not-for-profit organization, our mission continues to be fostering our members’ business interests, providing education, facilitating commercial contacts, and building strong relationships within our community. Your dedication and hard work have been instrumental in making the PACC a leading voice in advocating for the economic vitality of our members.

At the forefront of our efforts, we have consistently embraced the opportunities presented by both domestic and international trade. As a Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC) of the City of Chicago and a Referral Partner Agency of the Cook County Small Business Source program, we are a one-stop shop with regard to supporting the business needs and interests of our members locally and regionally.

As Poland’s stature advances on the world economic stage, we are very pleased that a growing number of Polish companies entering the American market are benefitting from PACC membership. By cooperating with the Chicago Office of the Polish Trade and Investment Agency (PAIH) and the Polish Consulate General among others, we have become a sought out and active participant in developing the growing bilateral trade relationship between the U.S. and Poland.

Over more than 30 years, the PACC has grown into a vibrant hub of networking and support, connecting a wide range of businesses and creating a thriving ecosystem of collaboration. We remain committed to promoting our members’ success and will continue to explore new ways to advance their growth and development.

I extend my deepest gratitude to every member, volunteer, and partner who has contributed to the PACC’s accomplishments. I would especially like to thank the businesses that advertised in this publication or are listed in the directory, and I encourage you to support them when seeking products and services. Much appreciation also goes to Daily Herald Media and everyone who contributed to producing this edition of our Chamber publication.

Thank you for your continued support. Together, we look forward to building on our legacy and shaping a successful future for the PACC and its members.

Don Pasek
2025-2026 PACC President

Chamber Membership Starting at
$150 individual/$350 Corporate
Join Now!

ABOUT THE CHAMBER

Established in 1994, the Polish American Chamber of Commerce (PACC) is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in the State of Illinois as a business association. The Chamber is dedicated to fostering its members’ business interests, educating, facilitating commercial contacts and building relations. As the voice of Polish American business in the Chicagoland metropolitan area, the Chamber’s goal is to serve the best interests of our members by providing support in business planning and implementation to improve economic results.

The Chamber is also at the forefront of encouraging and promoting domestic and foreign trade to benefit its members, the community and the State of Illinois. Its goals include promoting our members’ businesses and enhancing trade relations between the US and Poland.

The PACC is primarily dedicated to supporting the business needs of its members. This is accomplished through regular business meetings and other networking activities, training, publications and provision of various membership benefits and services, including:

■ Referrals and consultations, locally and internationally

■  Exclusive advertising and promotional opportunities

■ Internet visibility and e-mail information

■ Discounts on Chamber events

■ Airline and hotel discounts, when available

PACC provides the means through which businesses can work together to the benefit of all.

PACC members are businesses, organizations and individuals concerned with the socioeconomic climate of our community. Most are from the Chicago area, including thousands of Polish American business owners, but a growing number are from outside Illinois, including Poland.

As an association, we have a dynamic membership base that represents diverse views and is willing to step up to fiercely promote the PACC and its members. Most of the PACC members are small and medium-size businesses that represent a variety of interests, including retail and wholesale trade, travel, law, manufacturing, commercial and residential real estate services, construction, remodeling, financial services, accounting, and others, usually service-oriented business sectors.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President
Don Pasek
Omniterra Real Properties

Vice President –
Internal Affairs
Monika Wyrwas
BAK Research

Vice President –
External Affairs
Stanley Skoczen
Omega Structures

Vice President – International Affairs
Greg Grzywacz
Dwell Studio, Co.

Secretary
Lukasz Dudka
PNA / Dziennik Zwiazkowy

Treasurer
Anna Tukiendorf
TTI Medical Training School

Advisory Chair
(Immediate Past President)
Agnes Mroczkowski
Saturn Title

DIRECTORS

Lukasz Cholodecki
Vandalay Brands

Lucas Fuksa
Fuksa Law Group, LLC

Adam Garlewicz
Franklin Greenswag Channon Capilla LLC

Gregory Handzel
Handzel & Associates, LTD.

Henry Kazmierczak
H & L Homes, LLC

Agata Kowalyk
Primerica

James Robaczewski
PRCUAlife

Elzbieta Unat
Ella Hair Studio

Tony Zaskowski
Keller Williams ONE Chicago

STAFF

Bogdan Pukszta
Executive Director

Kalina Boksa
Project Coordinator

Agnieszka Feret
Accountant

Monica Lebensztejn
Marketing/PR Associate

Marianna Mosz
Member Relations and Event Coordinator

ADVISORY BOARD

Col. Andrew Adamczyk
Illinois National Guard

Stanley Boduch
MB Builders

Gina Buda
Progressive Truck Driving School

Andrew ‘Flip’ Filipowski
Silkroad Equity

Jan Krynski
Dom itp.

Anna Morzy
GreenbergTraurig LLC

John J. Pikarski
Gordon and Pikarski

Matthew Sularski
Industrial Maintenance Welding & Machining

Donald Versen, Sr.

Adam S. Wilczewski

Arie Zweig
R.A. Zweig

POLISH AMERICANS IN THE U.S.

According to the 2022 U.S. Census estimates, approximately 8.65 million self-identified Polish Americans reside in the United States, representing about 2.6% of the U.S. population. While updated figures on employment aren’t readily available, Polish Americans continue to participate actively in the labor force, with many engaged in self-employment or operating employer businesses. Assuming that persons of Polish ancestry constitute about 3.3% of U.S. business ownership, in 2022 there were approximately 211,055 firms owned by Polish Americans.

Although the number of new arrivals from Poland obtaining U.S. permanent residency has slowed compared to the peaks of the 1980s and 1990s, 43,150 Polish-born individuals obtained permanent resident status in the United States between 2014 and 2023. Nearly a third of Polish immigrants in the U.S. continue to reside in the Chicago metropolitan area.

The Chicago area remains home to the largest and most established Polish community in the world outside of Poland, with an estimated 720,000 residents of Polish ancestry across the region, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. As a whole, the state of Illinois has approximately 780,000 individuals, representing a significant heritage community. The city of Chicago alone contributes nearly 23% of the total Polish-ancestry population in Illinois.

The Polish language remains the third most widely spoken language in Chicago, after English and Spanish. In the metro area, roughly 182,900 people speak Polish at home, reinforcing the language’s strong presence in daily life, media, and cultural institutions. While no precise data exists on the number of businesses owned by individuals of Polish origin in the Chicago area, estimates indicate there are about 21,483 businesses owned by individuals of Polish origin in Cook County alone, spanning industries from food service and retail to construction and professional services.

UNITED STATES ILLINOIS CHICAGO (est.)

Category Total Polish Ancestry Total Polish Ancestry Polish Ancestry (est.)

Population 333,287,557 8,237,026 12,582,032 758,062 182,000

In Labor Force 164,922,000 4,568,000* 6,245,000 434,000* 102,000

Self-Employed 9.6% of workforce (15.8M) 255,800* 8.4% of workforce 23,800* 4,300

Median Household Income $74,580 $82,846* $78,433 $86,943* $74,474

Per Capita Income $41,517 $51,372* $43,358 $49,202* $42,153

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher 35.7% 46.8%* 38.9% 43.3%* 45.7%

Owner-Occupied Housing 65.9% 74%* 66.7% 78.1%* 45.5%

Government & Business institutions

Selected U.S. Government and Business Institutions

U.S. President Donald Trump (R)
Visitor’s Office: (202) 456-2121
Switchboard: (202) 456-1414

U.S. Commercial Service Chicago
U.S. Department of Commerce / International Trade Administration
77 W. Jackson Blvd., Ste. 707
Chicago, IL 60604
Tel.: (312) 859-9089
www.trade.gov

U.S. Small Business Administration
(Chicago office)
500 W. Madison St., Ste. 1150
Chicago, IL
Tel.: (312) 353-4528
www.sba.gov/il/

U.S. Embassy Warsaw
Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31
00-540 Warsaw, Poland
Tel.: +48-22/504-2000
http://pl.usembassy.gov/

U.S. Consulate General Krakow
Ul. Stolarska 9
31-043 Krakow, Poland
Tel.: +48-12/424-5100
Fax: +48-12/424-5103

U.S. Commercial Service
ul. Koszykowa 54
Trade Center, Fourth Floor
00-675 Warsaw
Tel: (48 22) 625 43 74
Fax: (48 22) 621 63 27
[email protected]

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D)
230 S. Dearborn St., Ste. 3892
Chicago, IL 60604
Tel.: (312) 353-4952
Fax: (312) 353-0150

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D)
230 S. Dearborn St., Ste. 3900
Chicago, IL 60604
Tel.: (312) 886-3506

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D)
4345 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
Tel.: (773) 267-5926
Fax: (773) 267-6583

U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D)
Illinois 3rd District
5624 W. Diversey Ave.
Chicago, IL 60639
Tel.: (773) 799-8219

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D)
5533 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL 60640
Tel.: (773) 506-7100
Fax: (773) 506-9202

Gov. JB Pritzker (D)
555 W. Monroe St., 16th Floor
Chicago, IL 60661
Tel.: (312) 814-2121 or (312) 814-2122

Illinois State Sen. Robert Martwick (D)
4349 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60641
Tel.: (773) 286-1115
[email protected]

Illinois State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D)
4349 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
Tel.: (773) 647-1174

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
500 E. Monroe St.
Springfield, Illinois 62701
Tel.: (217) 782-7500
www.dceo.illinois.gov

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
555 West 12 Floor Monroe St.
Chicago, IL 60661
Tel.: (312) 814-7179
www.illinois.gov/dceo

State of Illinois Business Portal
www.business.illinois.gov

Cook County Board President
Toni Preckwinkle (D)
118 N. Clark St., Room 537
Chicago, IL 60602
Tel.: (312) 603-4600

Bridget Degnen
County Board Commissioner,
12th District
4253 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
Tel.: (773) 283-7873
[email protected]

Cook County Bureau
of Economic Development
69 W. Washington St., Ste. 2900
Chicago, IL 60602
Tel.: (312) 603-1077
[email protected]
www.cookcountyil.gov/economicdevelopment

Mayor Brandon Johnson
City Hall
121 N. LaSalle St.
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Tel.: 311 or (312) 744-5000
(outside Chicago)

Alderman Daniel LaSpata, Ward 1
1958 North Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
Tel: (872) 206-2685
[email protected]

Alderman Julia M. Ramirez, Ward 12
3868 South Archer Ave.
Chicago, IL 60632
Tel: (773) 475-6783
[email protected]

Alderman Jeylu B. Gutierrez, Ward 14
3124 W. 59th St.
Chicago, IL 60629
Tel: (773) 236-0117
[email protected]

Alderman Jessica L. Fuentes, Ward 26
2511 W. Division St.
Chicago, IL 60602
Tel: (773) 395-0143
[email protected]

Alderman Chris Taliaferro, Ward 29
6272 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60639
Tel: (773) 237-6460
[email protected]

Alderman Ruth Cruz, Ward 30
5418 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
(773) 628-7874
[email protected]

Alderman Anthony J. Quezada, Ward 35
2934 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618
Tel: (773) 887-3772
[email protected]

Alderman Gilbert Villegas, Ward 36
6560 W. Fullerton Ave., Unit C118, Suite A
2246 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60707; 60622
Tel: (773) 745-4636
[email protected]

Alderman Nicholas Sposato, Ward 38
3821 North Harlem Ave.
Chicago, IL 60634
Tel: (773) 283-3838
[email protected]

Alderman Samantha Nugent, Ward 39
4200 W. Lawrence Ave.
Chicago, IL 60630
Tel: (773) 736-5594
[email protected]

Alderman Anthony V. Napolitano
Ward 41
7231 W. Touhy Ave.
Chicago, IL 60631
Tel: (773) 631-2241
[email protected]

Alderman James Gardiner, Ward 45
5460 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60646
Tel.: 773.853.0799
[email protected]

City of Chicago Small Business Center
121 N. LaSalle St., R. 800
Chicago, IL 60602
Tel.: (312) 744-6249
www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/bacp/sbc

World Business Chicago
180 N. Lasalle St., #2502
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel.: (312) 553-0500
[email protected]

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
180 N. Stetson Ave., Ste. 1400
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel.: (312) 726-3860
www.thechicagocouncil.org/issue/
global-cities

1871
Chicago’s Entrepreneurial Hub for Digital Startups
www.1871.com

2112
4245 N Knox Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
Tel.: (312) 300-7996
www.2112inc.com

SomerCor 504 Inc.
209 S. LaSalle St.,
Chicago, IL 60604
Tel.: (312) 360-3300
www.somercor.com

Allies for Community Business
135 N Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL 60612
Tel: (312) 423-5250
https://a4cb.org/

Women’s Business
Development Center
8 South Michigan Ave., Fourth Floor
Chicago, IL 60603
Tel.: (312) 853-3477
www.wbdc.org

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
410 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 900
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 494-6700
www.chicagolandchamber.org

International Trade Club of Chicago
303 East Wacker Drive, Suite 305
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel: (312) 423-5250
https://itcc.org/

Polish American Chamber of Commerce Pacific Northwest
1714 18th Ave. Seattle, WA 98122
[email protected]
www.paccpnw.org

Polish-American Chamber of Commerce in Texas
1980 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 100
Houston, TX 77056
[email protected]
https://www.polchamtx.org/

Canada-Poland Chamber of Commerce
5343 Dundas St. W., Suite 601
Toronto, Ontario, M9B 6H8, Canada
Tel: (416) 505-0020
https://www.canada-poland.com/

Selected Polish Government and Business Institutions

Ministry of Development
and Technology
Pl. Trzech Krzyży 3/5
00-507 Warsaw
Tel.: 48 22 693 5000
Fax: 693 4048, 693 4013, 693 4014
www.gov.pl/web/rozwoj-technologia

Ministry of the State Treasury
ul. Krucza 36
00-522 Warsaw
Tel.: 48 22 695 8000, 695 9000
Fax: 621 3361, 628 0872
[email protected]
www.msp.gov.pl

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Al. Szucha 23
00-580 Warsaw
Tel.: (48-22) 250 0116
Fax: 629 0287
www.msz.gov.pl

Embassy of the Republic of
Poland - Economic Section
2640 16th St., NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
Tel.: (202) 499-1700
[email protected]

Trade & Investment Section Embassy of the Republic of Poland
1503 21st St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20036, USA
Tel.: (202) 467-6690
Fax: (202) 833-8384
www.washington.trade.gov.pl

Consulate General of the Republic
of Poland in New York -
Economic Affairs Section
675 Third Ave.
New York, NY 10017
Tel.: (212) 370-5300
Fax: (212) 818-9623
www.newyork.trade.gov.pl

Consulate General of the
Republic of Poland
1530 N. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60610
Tel.: (312) 337-8166
[email protected]
www.gov.pl/web/usa-en/consulate-chicago

Polish Investment & Trade Agency
Krucza St. 50
00-025 Warsaw, Poland
Tel.: +48 22 334 99 55
www.paih.gov.pl

Polish Investment & Trade
Agency Chicago
155 N. Wacker Drive, Ste. 4250
Chicago, IL 60606
Tel.: (773) 512-1591
www.paih.gov.pl

Krajowa Izba Gospodarcza (KIG)
Polish Chamber of Commerce
ul. Trebacka 4
00-074 Warsaw
Tel.: 22 630 96 00
Fax: 22 827 46 73
[email protected]

Warszawskie Stowarzyszenie
Pośredników w Obrocie
Nieruchomościami (WSPON)
ul. Nowogrodzka 19 lok. 3
00-511 Warsaw
Tel.: 22 625 54 00
Tel./fax: 22 629 35 29
[email protected]
www.wspon.org.pl

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice
Ul. Opolska 15
40-084 Katowice
Tel.: +48 32 35 111 80
https://rig.katowice.pl/

American Chamber of Commerce
in Poland
Spektrum Tower, 16th Floor
ul. Twarda 18
00-105 Warsaw
Tel: Class 48 (22) 520-5999
www.amcham.pl

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Polish American Chamber of Commerce stands beside immigrant entrepreneurs and also beside businesses crossing the Atlantic – in both directions.

Our role as an economic development agency involves working with many institutions that have similar goals. PACC helps businesses through collaboration and projects with the City of Chicago, Cook County and State of Illinois locally, and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) and the Consulate General of Poland with regard to bi-national economic relations and trade.

The City of Chicago
NBDC Program

Most importantly, as part of the City of Chicago 2025-2026 NBDC program, we continue our work with the City’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) and Small Business Center on assisting businesses throughout our community. Our priority areas during the two-year period, in addition to the Milwaukee Avenue Commercial Corridor, are the communities of Archer Heights, Avondale, Belmont Cragin, Brighton Park, Dunning, Jefferson Park, Portage Park and West Town.

As part of our efforts, we look forward to intensifying our provision of culturally-specific mentorship and assistance to Polish immigrants interested in accessing mainstream business services and support mechanisms offered as part of Chicago’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Please contact us if you or someone you know needs help with starting a new business, have City-related issues, or need financial resources information, development assistance, or networking opportunities.

Cook County Small
Business Source

The Polish American Chamber of Commerce (PACC) is pleased to once again serve as a referral partner in the 2025 Cook County Small Business Source program.

By joining this initiative, PACC has become part of a trusted network of over 40 partner agencies who work together to support and strengthen small businesses throughout Cook County, Illinois.

The Source program is a valuable resource for small businesses, offering information and services aimed at helping them grow and succeed. Businesses can receive assistance with business planning, financial advice, legal support, and information on local regulations and permits.

MILWAUKEE AVENUE AND POLONIA

By Dominic A. Pacyga, Ph.D.

Milwaukee Avenue is one of Chicago’s few diagonal streets, making its way from the downtown to the Northwest suburbs. For more than 150 years, the street has provided a home for many ethnic entrepreneurs. Milwaukee Avenue provided a main street for Polonia as the community grew first in the neighborhood Polish Americans knew as Stanisławowo / Trojcowo where Milwaukee Avenue intersects with Division Street and Ashland Avenue.

Today the district is largely known as Wicker Park. This area developed as the largest of five original Polish communities in Chicago. Polish Americans made their way up Milwaukee Avenue and the streets which intersected it creating institutions, as well as retail and entertainment businesses. Anton Schermann’s store and travel agency was among the first of these, but Poles soon opened grocery stores, delicatessens, restaurants, taverns, music and bookstores, religious goods stores, furniture stores and other retail establishments along the avenue and adjacent streets.

Theaters, night clubs, and dance halls are also located on the street. Major Polish fraternal groups, such as the Polish National Alliance, Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, and Polish Women’s Alliance among others, situated their national headquarters just off Milwaukee Avenue. The street became a major artery for the Polish community as Chicago’s Polonia spread northwest to the suburbs.

The corridor created by Milwaukee Avenue included several Polish churches from St. Stanislaus Kostka and Holy Trinity to St. Hyacinth’s in Avondale and beyond. St. Adalbert and Maryhill cemeteries anchor the street in Niles and provide a final resting place for many Polish Americans.

Once known as Dinner Pail Avenue because of the large number of immigrants who rushed along the street, today Milwaukee Avenue endures as a major business district and as a transportation corridor for the Northwest side. It continues to attract many Polish-American businesses, from the Polonia Triangle to Niles and beyond, mixing with other ethnic groups, as well as art galleries, coffeehouses, and other businesses.

The future of Milwaukee Avenue looks bright as it continues to be a vital part of Chicago and the suburbs.

Polish - American Economic Relations

Polish - American Economic Relations: A Strategic Bridge for Transatlantic Growth

A Partnership Rooted in Shared Aspirations and Vision

The relationship between Poland and the United States has evolved from its foundations in historical kinship to a robust economic alliance characterized by dynamism, adaptability, and long-term potential. As of 2025, both nations face global uncertainty with renewed determination to deepen cooperation — not only to strengthen bilateral trade, but to jointly address global challenges such as energy security, innovation competitiveness, and defense resilience.

What began as cultural and people-to-people ties have matured into a structural bond, now reinforced by institutional mechanisms, investment flows, and shared commitments to NATO, the rule of law, and entrepreneurial freedom. The economic corridor between Warsaw and Washington is no longer symbolic — it is strategic.

Trade Momentum: Growth Anchored in Resilience

In 2024, bilateral trade reached a record high of $29.1 billion, including $16.5 billion in U.S. exports to Poland and $12.6 billion in Polish exports to the United States. These figures represent a nearly 50% increase over the past five years and reflect Poland’s rise as a key transatlantic partner.

Poland’s exports to the United States feature a wide array of value-added products, such as mechanical and electrical machinery, aviation components (particularly turbojets and turboprops), medical technologies, orthopedic equipment, furniture, and processed food. The diversification of Poland’s export portfolio suggests growing competitiveness in high-tech and precision manufacturing — areas traditionally dominated by Western Europe.

From the American side, exports to Poland focus on sectors critical to national security and industrial modernization: aircraft and helicopters, telecommunications infrastructure, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and most notably liquefied natural gas (LNG). In fact, Poland is now the second-largest importer of American LNG in Europe, underscoring the country’s strategic importance in the U.S. global energy strategy.

Trade in services — particularly IT, logistics, and finance — has also grown steadily, though exact figures are harder to track due to decentralized reporting. The expansion of cloud services and shared platforms by U.S. firms across Polish cities contributes to the growing digital footprint between the two economies.

Investment Flows and Economic Integration

American foreign direct investment (FDI) in Poland has surpassed $65 billion, with over 1,500 American-owned firms operating locally and employing approximately 300,000 individuals. These firms are active across all Polish voivodeships and range from manufacturers and software developers to retail giants and logistics operators.

Importantly, American investment in Poland has continued to grow despite global inflationary pressures and geopolitical instability. This trajectory highlights the attractiveness of Poland’s investment climate, shaped by its EU membership, educated workforce, modern infrastructure, and predictable legal framework.

Polish outward investment into the United States is steadily increasing as well, particularly in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, IT, real estate, and food distribution. While the overall volume of Poland’s outward FDI remains modest relative to its GDP, the trend line suggests continued growth in the coming years, especially in Midwest hubs such as Illinois.

The Role of PAIH:
Diplomacy Through Business

The Polish Investment & Trade Agency (PAIH) is one of the most important drivers of Polish-American economic cooperation. With approximately 60 Foreign Trade Offices worldwide, including Chicago, New York, Houston, and Los Angeles, PAIH serves as a connective tissue between governments, businesses, and investors.

The Chicago office, led by Michal J. Rzeznik, stands out for its proactive engagement with regional stakeholders, including chambers of commerce, state governments, universities, and diaspora groups. By covering twelve Midwestern states, this office ensures that Polish companies entering the U.S. market receive tailored guidance, regulatory support, and strategic matchmaking. Its activities include:

•  Coordinating bilateral trade missions

•  Organizing B2B and investment sessions

•  Supporting Polish SMEs with export readiness assessments

•  Promoting Poland’s industrial and technological capacity across sectors such as food & beverage, energy, biotechnology, automotive, construction & development, machinery, IT/ICT, furniture, yachting, fintech and agritech

PAIH’s reputation as a trusted partner for American businesses seeking EU market access is grounded in its ability to align investor interests with regional strengths — whether it’s logistics near Gdańsk or R&D clusters in Wrocław.

Geopolitics and
Market Confidence

One of the defining features of Poland’s emergence as an economic anchor in Europe is its strategic positioning amid regional instability. Poland has dedicated over $2.5 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, while absorbing more than 3 million refugees and ensuring their access to public education and healthcare. This humanitarian leadership has strengthened Poland’s international image and accelerated foreign interest in long-term partnerships.

In recent months, Poland has also weathered trade headwinds, including the imposition of U.S. tariffs targeting select EU products. While estimates suggest a short-term impact of 0.4% GDP reduction (roughly $2.6 billion), Polish and EU authorities have responded with coordinated diplomatic engagement, emphasizing shared values and the need to preserve strategic trade ties.

Emerging Sectors
of Cooperation

Looking ahead, several sectors offer particularly high potential for Polish-American synergy:

•  Nuclear and Green Energy: Poland has signed agreements with U.S. firms for nuclear infrastructure, including small modular reactors and a large-scale power plant. Joint investment in renewables also continues.

•  Cybersecurity and AI: With one of the largest populations of STEM graduates in Europe, Poland is an ideal partner for American tech firms exploring new digital solutions.

•  Defense and Aerospace: Poland’s defense budget now equals 4.7% of GDP, and its growing interoperability with U.S. systems makes it a key partner in NATO’s Eastern Flank modernization.

•  Agritech and Food Innovation: Poland leads the EU in exports of select food categories and offers innovative processing capabilities ideal for American distributors.

Conclusion: Intent, Infrastructure, and Integration

The evolution of Polish-American economic relations reflects more than transactional exchanges — it is a story of mutual intent, institutional infrastructure, and integration of long-term objectives. With trade volumes expanding, investment flows diversifying, and platforms like PAIH enabling business diplomacy, this partnership is equipped to face the demands of a changing world.

Whether through LNG terminals on the Baltic Sea or business corridors in Chicago, the connection between Poland and the United States is fortified by trust, professionalism, and a shared ambition to create value. The bridge built over generations now supports the weight of innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic leadership.

Poland’s entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program

Enhanced Mobility and Economic Impact

By Jan Karolczak

Poland’s admission into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) on Nov. 11, 2019, significantly simplified travel from Poland to the United States. The VWP has made travel more accessible and cost-effective for Poles. Most Poles who want to visit the United States either for business or leisure no longer need to undergo the lengthy and costly process of obtaining a B1/B2 visa, which costs $160. Instead, they can apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) at a cost of $4 per application, with an additional $17 authorization fee if the application is approved.

The Polish American Chamber of Commerce strongly advocated for Poland’s inclusion into the VWP. However, due to the travel restrictions imposed by COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, it was not until recently, when full-year travel data became available, that we could begin to assess the impact of Poland’s admission into the VWP on travel from Poland to the United States.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic impacted global travel, there was a consistent increase in the number of Polish visitors to the United States. In 2018, there were 211,107 Polish visitors to the U.S. The numbers saw an uptick in 2019, reaching 228,395 visitors. Subsequently, the travel landscape was severely impacted by the pandemic, with travel restrictions leading to a drastic reduction in visitor numbers to 48,717 in 2020 and 36,108 in 2021. However, according to data from the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. International Trade Agency, the post-pandemic recovery has been strong, with figures climbing to 226,767 in 2022, 305,587 in 2023, and continuing to rise to an all-time high of 322,015 Polish visitors recorded in 2024.

Such resilience reflects the strength and value of the VWP and underscores the vitality of the bilateral relationship between Poland and the United States. Poland’s admission into the VWP and the increased number of Polish visitors to the United States also bolster the U.S. economy. With the Department of Commerce estimating that every 69 international visits create one U.S. job, the 2024 visitor volume translates into approximately 4,670 U.S. jobs potentially supported by Polish tourism and business travel.

PACC Annual Events

January

■ Business Networking Event -
New Year’s Special

February

■ Business Networking Event

■ Lunchtime Business Seminar

March

■ Annual Meeting

apriL

■ PACC Open Golf Outing

■ Lunchtime Business Seminar

May

■ US-Poland Business Forum

■ Lunchtime Business Seminar

june

■ Business Networking Event

■ Lunchtime Business Seminar

july

■ Business Networking Event

august

■ Annual Boat Outing

september

■ PACC at the Taste of Polonia

■ Lunchtime Business Seminar

October

■ Business Networking Event

■ Business Seminar

November

■ Lunchtime Business Seminar

■ Business Networking Event

December

■ Holiday Party & PACC Awards Dinner