The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will launch a new project for local economic development in Slovakia in September, Bonnie Walter of USAID announced at a press conference in Bratislava June 26.
In mid-June USAID approached the mayors of Slovak towns with populations from 20,000 to 200,000. Eight interested municipalities will be visited in mid-July by USAID representatives and consultants from the Berman Group, a consulting firm that helped to implement USAID projects in the Czech Republic.
The representatives will select four of the eight cities and help to create a Commission for Strategic Development that will consist of NGOs, city officials, and workers in the private and public sectors.
The commission will draw up a strategic plan to attract foreign investors and improve economic conditions in the cities, said Walter.
