Bulgarian Interns Travel to Virginia to Learn About Local Economic Development

Two Bulgarian specialists in local economic development returned from Virginia after participating in 3-week internships in partner cities as part of the USAID City Links Program, implemented by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the Foundation for Local Government Reform.

Nina Yordanova from the municipality of Kazanluk and Yordanka Slavova from the municipality of Silistra worked in the city of Charlottesville and in Albemarle County, Virginia, for three weeks in July, gaining hands-on experience in U.S. economic development tools and techniques. The Office of Neighborhood Development Services of the city of Charlottesville and the Albemarle County Department of Community Development served as the interns' primary hosts. During this year, thirty local economic development specialists from Bulgarian cities will participate in the internship program.

The interns are required to develop a detailed local economic development implementation work plan when they return to their cities to integrate what they have learned during the internships. The internship involves job shadowing, providing the intern with a typical day's work as an economic developer in the United States. Nina and Yordanka attended council meetings in Charlottesville to give them perspective on how elected officials interact with staff, citizens, and businesses in their communities. They also had the opportunity to learn about the cities' zoning and development processes, business networking and partnerships, and the challenges of economic redevelopment efforts.

Since 1997, U.S. partner cities have been heavily involved in technical assistance and training in Bulgaria, serving as advisors and mentors to their Bulgarian partners through the City Links program.