A c t i o n P l a n
TECHNICAL TWINNING PROGRAM FOR TECHNICAL COOPERATION BETWEEN
MUNICIPALITY OF STARA ZAGORA, BULGARIA
and
CITY OF DURHAM, USA
ACTION PLAN
INTRODUCTION
In order to implement the activities described in the Memorandum of Agreement, the Municipality of Stara Zagora and the City of Durham have agreed to the following eight point strategy. This will serve as a framework for the on-going relationship between our two cities. The Action Plan looks at both short-term objectives and long term goals. The short- term objectives are items, which can be successfully accomplished in the next ten months. The long-term goals will take our relationship forward into the future.
The eight major points of this strategy, in priority order, are as follows:
I. Downtown Development
II. Economic Development
III. Housing
IV. Cooperation Between Medical Universities and Hospitals
V. Culture and Education
VI. Tobacco Production and Manufacturing
VII. Agriculture
VIII. Police
SHORT-TERM GOALS (Ten Month Strategies)
I. Downtown Development
To identify and develop a marketing plan for a specific downtown project that will serve as a prototype for future marketing efforts.
Action Steps:
Select development site
Analyze site and data collection
Develop marketing materials
Develop marketing strategy
Conduct official offering
Time Frame:
September, 1997 site selection site analysis data collection
October/November, 1997 site visit in Stara Zagora
develop draft marketing materials
develop draft marketing strategy
November/December, 1997 finalize official offering
June, 1998 selection of developer
Participants:
Economic Development Commission - Stara Zagora
Chief Architect Stara Zagora
Chamber of Commerce - Stara Zagora
Chamber of Commerce -Durham
Downtown Durham, Inc.
Economic Development Commission - Durham
II. Economic Development
To establish a Public/Private Partnership for economic development with an international component to include import/export and business investment.
Action Steps:
Create inventory of U.S. businesses already doing business in Bulgaria
Create inventory of Stara Zagora businesses interested in export to the U.S.
Create inventory of goods and services desired by Stara Zagora citizens to be imported from Durham
Hold a business persons' meeting to identify linkages Time Frame:
September, 1997 inventory of U.S. Businesses
inventory of Stara Zagora businesses
inventory of desirable products
October/November, 1997 site visit in Stara Zagora
business person's meeting
June, 1998 establish on-going business linkages
Participants:
ICMA/Foundation for Local Government Reform
Chamber of Commerce - Stara Zagora
Chamber of Commerce - Durham
Economic Development Commission - Durham
Economic Development Commission - Stara Zagora
III. Housing
To establish a pilot program for new single family home construction to blend Bulgarian and U.S. styles and construction and explore alternative construction techniques.
Action Steps:
Select develop site
Develop site plan
Develop architectural plans
Develop alternative building materials requirements
Develop marketing program
Time Frame:
September, 1997 site selection
site analysis and plan begin development of architectural
plans begin development of alternative
building materials requirements
November, 1997 begin development of marketing program
May, 1998 site visit to Stara Zagora
June, 1998 groundbreaking
Participants:
Chief Architect - Stara Zagora
Housing Department - City of Durham
Private Developer to be selected - Durham
LONG TERM GOALS (Beyond June, 1998 Strategies)
I. Downtown Development
Use prototype marketing package to continue property offerings
II. Economic Development
Continue development of relationships for investment and trade
III. Housing
Continue prototype housing construction
Develop suburban subdivision for rent-to-own home ownership
IV. Cooperation between Medical Universities and Hospitals
Establish cooperation between Medical Universities and Hospitals including training and faculty exchange and continued fostering of student acceptance at Duke University and Duke University Medical School.
V. Culture and Education
Establish cooperation and exchanges of teachers, graphic artists and performing artists.
VI. Tobacco Production and Manufacturing
Establish relationship between Stara Zagora and Durham and North Carolina tobacco producers and manufacturers to open markets and establish long term relationships in the industry.
VII. Agriculture
Establish relationships to create technical assistance vehicle in Stara Zagora to provide assistance directly to farmers, i.e. Cooperative Extension Service with Agricultural College, Agricultural and Marketing Agents.
VIII. Police
Establish exchange of personnel and ideas in the area of local policing and community policing efforts.
INTERMITTENT STAFF EXCHANGE
The initial visit to Stara Zagora is planned for late October/early November, 1997 to support the activities described in Short Term Goal I. Downtown Development and II. Economic Development. Additional visit to Durham and to Stara Zagora will be determined, and staff identified for those visits, as schedules permit and resources and needs are better defined.
This the 30th day of August, 1997
Tsanko Yablanski,Mayor
Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Silvia S. Kerckhoff, Mayor Durham, USA
