Looking for what causes the merely high number of unemployed people in the Municipality of Zlatograd, it turns out that in most of the cases it is the insufficient qualification, the difference between what the manager requires and what the skills of the worker are, insufficient effectiveness of the structures which encourages the self-engagement and the private business.

In the framework of Project on the employment in the regions with mining and steel extractive industries (SMAEP), the Center for Development of the Municipality of Zlatograd in partnership with the Municipality of Zlatograd, the Professional High School Ch.Botev , Bulteks Inc. and Finconsult Engineering created possibilities for bringing comfort to the redundant mine workers and other unemployed in the process of their realization.

The model of partnership between the institutions in the process of professional education and stimulating the enterprising is based on the idea the main participants in the market of labour in Zlatograd to speak in one language . For this purpose the professional education and enterprising were regarded as one integral/entire process: education-skills-realization-local economy-social politics .

What was the main role of the new participants? The Municipality of Zlatograd and the Labour Bureau provided information and analysis for the most searched specialties and for the tendencies in the local development. On that basis three main professional directions were chosen (machinery construction, building construction, tailoring), as well as additional skills (self-engagement, language skills, information technologies). The training organizations put in their educational programs the recommendations of businessmen in order to help its faster realization. The local businessmen observed selected students, participated in their evaluation and stimulated them in professional aspect. The students were motivated also by the permanent look of their potential employers, and by the fact that the products of the production practice were visible for the public: for the constructors - a strip of pavement, for the tailors - work clothes for the town cleaners etc. This had a big influence on the students. The non-government organizations created structures to turn the initiation for supporting new firms into a permanently offered service.

The activities were in two directions:

1. Professional and additional education professional courses for three professions that create real chances of finding a job and aim to form new or to improve already existing basic knowledge and skills, required for exercising a precise profession. The second group of courses (for acquiring new skills) is in the area/domain of computer skill and learning foreign languages. The aim is the creation of conditions for sustainable development of small firms.

2. Development and support of the enterprising this group of activities aims to encourage the enterprising in the families of redundant workers and clerks on the territory of Zlatograd and among business representatives in the municipality. This part included the organization of course Start your own business . A Front Office for firm enterprising and easier support to new private firms was established. The Front Office offers two main services consultation and information even after the limit of the project. The third activity in this group was related to the establishment of a Resource Center for unemployed to the Community Center Prosveta . It provides access to up to date specialized business information for all citizens of the municipality.

These activities were possible thanks to the Project on the work load/employment in the regions with mining and steel extractive industries of the Phare Program. The Project is being realized in the period between 01.12.2001 30.11.2002.

- A model for partnership was created between the Center, the Municipality of Zlatograd, schools and local firms;

- A Front Office for company enterprising and providing consultative and informational services was established;

- A Resource Center helps the unemployed;

- 70 persons received professional qualification for tailors, turners, constructors; 45 of them found a job for a period of more then 3 months;

- 34 unemployed received additional skills on enterprising, computer skills and English language;

- Six new firms are registered by the trained people and now functioning and 12 after the support of the Front office;

- Infrastructure improvements 620 sq. m. of pavement were laid in the central part of the city, walls of heating premises were built and elements of a Police Border District.