USAID Launches a Local Economic Development Project in Sevastopol

On February 7, 2008 USAID’s Local Economic Development (LED) Project, the Sevastopol City Council and the Sevastopol Municipal Administration signed a Protocol of Intent on cooperation to develop and implement a strategy to bring investment to the city.   Following the signing ceremony, the City Council hosted the first session of the Expert Committee on strategic planning to promote investment at its offices.   The session was attended by Earl Gast, USAID’s Mission Director in Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus, Valeriy Saratov, Chair of Sevastopol City Council, Leonid Savchenko, Deputy Head of Sevastopol Municipal Administration, and Howard Ockman, LED Chief of Party.   The first Expert Committee (EC) session familiarized its members with the substance and schedule of the strategic planning effort that will be ongoing for the next few months.  As it develops the strategy, the EC will approve all decisions regarding the areas and priorities of the future strategy with methodological support from LED experts. The EC consists of prominent community leaders, including CEOs of local businesses, city council members, local government officials, representatives of the academic community and civil society organizations.  The EC will be authorized to make all decisions concerning directions and priorities of the city’s future strategic plan on economic development, while LED will provide expert support and methodological guidance to the process.   LED has previously sponsored preparation of strategic plans for economic development in 44 Ukrainian cities.  As of February 1, 2008, 43 plans were approved by their respective city councils, and 17 more cities were working to develop their plans with LED support.