Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Municipality of Nikolaevo Development Center
Municipality of Nikolaevo
Background
Albeit a very young municipality, for the short period since it was established in 1998, Nikolaevo managed to become a partner under several local development support programs. Nikolaevo is one of the nine pilot Bulgarian municipalities for PLEDGE, a US Department of Labor program focused on municipalities in recession and with high unemployment.
Albeit a very young municipality, for the short period since it was established in 1998, Nikolaevo managed to become a partner under several local development support programs. Nikolaevo is one of the nine pilot Bulgarian municipalities for PLEDGE, a US Department of Labor program focused on municipalities in recession and with high unemployment.
Practice
Under PLEDGE, the Municipality of Nikolaevo focused its efforts on mobilizing the community for the study and evaluation of existing resources, evaluation of local factors and economic growth planning. The program assesses the individual partners by several criteria. For Nikolaevo, the most important criteria was the great interest in the seminars. The citizens were motivated to contribute to the development of their municipality. Another favorable indicator for the success of the program was the activity of the participants during the periods between seminars. Workshops for additional discussions or collection of information are routine within the Municipality of Nikolaevo. The program participants are the people who make the citizens believe that they can make a change.
The discussion of several projects materialized in the idea for an information center. In November, 1999, some of the seminar participants established the Municipality of Nikolaevo Development Center, a non-governmental non-profit organization. The Center s activities are focused on studying local development opportunities, stimulating local governments to consider the needs and combine the resources of businesses, the Municipality and the citizens, as well as on providing coordination and incentives for partnerships between them. The Center plays the role of a link that has the technical capabilities of an effective supplier of information and services to the citizens, and an intermediary between the citizens and the local authorities.
The grand opening of the Municipality of Nikolaevo Development Center was held on September 15, 2000. The Center s main goals are:
to support and stimulate the development of the municipal economy by providing needed information and encouraging private initiative;
to strengthen local government;
to provide a wide range of services to the citizens;
to assist education and to encourage the formation of a citizen attitude in young people;
to organize different training courses aimed at improving people s chances to find employment;
to provide information on different funding sources;
to develop and implement projects related to economic development, educational, cultural and sports exchanges, and tourism.
The information center is equipped with modern facilities that meet the need for various services, including Internet access and email. The Center has two employees, a manager and an executive assistant. A brochure was developed to promote the Center as a unique source of information for four neighboring municipalities. Monthly, the Center s services are used by approximately 100 clients. The team is also working on the implementation of some of the ideas that were shared at the first seminars on setting priorities.
Efforts are also focused on the informal organization of young people within the municipality and on providing information and consultant support to young people looking for a career. The goal is to motivate the young people to remain in the municipality and to increase their civic commitment.
Under PLEDGE, the Municipality of Nikolaevo focused its efforts on mobilizing the community for the study and evaluation of existing resources, evaluation of local factors and economic growth planning. The program assesses the individual partners by several criteria. For Nikolaevo, the most important criteria was the great interest in the seminars. The citizens were motivated to contribute to the development of their municipality. Another favorable indicator for the success of the program was the activity of the participants during the periods between seminars. Workshops for additional discussions or collection of information are routine within the Municipality of Nikolaevo. The program participants are the people who make the citizens believe that they can make a change.
The discussion of several projects materialized in the idea for an information center. In November, 1999, some of the seminar participants established the Municipality of Nikolaevo Development Center, a non-governmental non-profit organization. The Center s activities are focused on studying local development opportunities, stimulating local governments to consider the needs and combine the resources of businesses, the Municipality and the citizens, as well as on providing coordination and incentives for partnerships between them. The Center plays the role of a link that has the technical capabilities of an effective supplier of information and services to the citizens, and an intermediary between the citizens and the local authorities.
The grand opening of the Municipality of Nikolaevo Development Center was held on September 15, 2000. The Center s main goals are:
to support and stimulate the development of the municipal economy by providing needed information and encouraging private initiative;
to strengthen local government;
to provide a wide range of services to the citizens;
to assist education and to encourage the formation of a citizen attitude in young people;
to organize different training courses aimed at improving people s chances to find employment;
to provide information on different funding sources;
to develop and implement projects related to economic development, educational, cultural and sports exchanges, and tourism.
The information center is equipped with modern facilities that meet the need for various services, including Internet access and email. The Center has two employees, a manager and an executive assistant. A brochure was developed to promote the Center as a unique source of information for four neighboring municipalities. Monthly, the Center s services are used by approximately 100 clients. The team is also working on the implementation of some of the ideas that were shared at the first seminars on setting priorities.
Efforts are also focused on the informal organization of young people within the municipality and on providing information and consultant support to young people looking for a career. The goal is to motivate the young people to remain in the municipality and to increase their civic commitment.
Results
At present, the Center is implementing a quick start program that allows companies to get qualified workers without having to invest in staff training. The Charity Know-How program is expected to provide support for NGO development.
The Center organizes foreign language lessons, educational seminars, sports and cultural events for the youth. With regard to the presentation of the Small and Medium Enterprises Agency Program, the Center will organize a seminar that will be attended by business representatives from Nikolaevo and the neighboring municipalities. The goal is to help the small and medium size businesses to gain knowledge on how to manage their operations, as well as on business ethics and customer service.
At present, the Center is implementing a quick start program that allows companies to get qualified workers without having to invest in staff training. The Charity Know-How program is expected to provide support for NGO development.
The Center organizes foreign language lessons, educational seminars, sports and cultural events for the youth. With regard to the presentation of the Small and Medium Enterprises Agency Program, the Center will organize a seminar that will be attended by business representatives from Nikolaevo and the neighboring municipalities. The goal is to help the small and medium size businesses to gain knowledge on how to manage their operations, as well as on business ethics and customer service.
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