Local Economic Development

Programs: Local Economic Development

Local Economic Development (LED) is a participatory process that encourages the public, private and civil society sectors to establish partnerships and collaboratively find local solutions to common economic challenges. The LED process seeks to empower local participants to effectively utilize business enterprises, labor, capital and other resources to achieve local priorities. The sustainable LED redefines prosperity, weighing municipality values, quality of life and the environment alongside economic considerations and relies upon a more democratic approach to decision-making, representing municipality-wide interests .

ADF provides municipalities training and technical assistance in developing local economic development strategies and plans leading to increased trade and investment. ADF has considerable experience in organizing highly participatory processes in which municipalities and stakeholders work together to develop local economic strategies and plans. Its LED processes include mobilizing the community and its stakeholders, mapping local resources, and assisting municipalities and stakeholders in visioning, goal setting, developing and adopting local economic development strategies and plans. The development of local economic strategies and plans with mapping of resources and identification of priority projects enable municipalities to attract both private sector investment and national and international public sector support.

ADF assistance to municipalities includes assistance in establishing and developing Local Economic Development Offices for promoting municipalities, attracting investments, improving local business conditions and services and generating increased income and employment opportunities.

Also, ADF’s assistance to municipalities includes establishing Citizen Assistance Centers and One-stop Permitting Centers to serve needs of local businesses and citizens. In addition to helping municipalities improve public services, ADF also provides assistance in developing economic infrastructure such as business improvement districts, industrial zones, green markets.

Programs in Local Economic Development  have been conducted in Serbia.