Press Releases
U.S. Ambassador Bradtke Opens Market in Gvozd and Square in Topusko
EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Public Affairs Section
Zagreb, Croatia
U.S. AMBASSADOR BRADTKE OPENS MARKET IN GVOZD AND SQUARE IN TOPUSKO
Zagreb, December 12, 2007 - U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, Robert A. Bradtke, will attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of the second phase of construction of a market in Gvozd and the newly developed Ban Jelacic Square in Topusko on December 13 at 10:00 and 11:30 respectively. Branko Jovicic, the Mayor of Gvozd, Nikola Abramovic, Mayor of Topusko, Marina Lovric, Prefect of Sisacko-Moslavacka County, Ljudevit Herceg, Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Sea, Tourism, Transport and Develoment and William Jeffers, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director are also expected to attend.
Under the Local Government Reform Program’s (LGRP) Local Government Infrastructure Component, USAID financed the second phase of the Gvozd Market construction. The first part, the outdoor green market area, was financed by the EU. The second phase added buildings to host small businesses and a covered market area. The Ministry of Sea, Tourism Transport and Development co-financed the project with USAID from EIB loan. The total value of the project amounted to approximately HRK 3 million. USAID, through the LGRP, provided HRK 760,768.70 (or 25.38% of the total project cost).
The modernization of the Ban Jelacic Square was a joint effort by the Ministry of Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Municipality of Topusko to expand local government capacity to implement infrastructure projects. The total value of the project amounted to over 3 million HRK. USAID, through its Local Government Reform Program (LGRP), financed HRK 1,387,580.31 (or 45% of the total project cost).
USAID is the primary assistance organization of the United States Government. Since 1992, the United States has provided over $407 million to Croatia (much of it through USAID programs) to strengthen democratic institutions and assist in postwar reconstruction and the return of refugees, to support de-mining and economic development, and to provide educational and training opportunities. The U.S. has also provided guidance and support to the Croatian judicial and military sectors to further Croatia's integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions.
For additional information, please contact Ms. Anja Picelj-Kosak at the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs Office, phone (01) 661-2284, cell 091-661-2284, or e-mail: picelja@state.gov