RURAL GROWTH AND SERVICE CENTERS

PROJECT COMPONENTS INCLUDE: 1)STRENGTHENING THE GOP"S CAPACITY TO PLAN AND DEVELOP THE CENTERS; 2)DEVELOPMENT OF VIABLE PRODUCTIVE AND SUPPORTING ENTERPRISES; AND 3)PROVISION OF HOUSING AND TOWN INFRASTRUCTURE. THE CAPACITY OF BOTH NATIONAL GOVT AGENCIES AND LOCAL GOVTS TO PLAN AND DEVELOP GROWTH AND SERVICE CENTERS WILL BE STRENGTHENED IN 3 AREAS -- DEVELOPMENT OF AN EFFECTIVE TOWN PLANNING PROCESS, IMPROVEMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND ECONOMIC POLICY"S CAPABILITY, AND STRENGTHENING OF THE CAPACITY OF KEY IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES. THREE KINDS OF PRODUCTIVE AND SUPPORTING ENTERPRISES WILL BE FINANCED THROUGH THE PROJECT. THESE INCLUDE AGRO-INDUSTRIES, SMALL BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES, AND INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURE. SUB-LOANS PROVIDED TO AGRO INDUSTRIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES WILL GENERATE 1500 TO 2300 NEW JOBS. SKILLS TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED FOR ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES OF AGRO-INDUSTRIES RECEIVING SUBLOANS, WHILE COURSES IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT WILL BE PROVIDED TO PARTICIPATING SMALL BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES. THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY WILL DEVELOP INDUSTRIAL SITES AT CHITRE AND DAVID. BUILDINGS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED TO SATISFY REQUIREMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL ENTREPRENEURS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE PROVIDED INCLUDING LAND,ROADS, POTABLE WATER, SEWERAGE, AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. HOUSING AND TOWN INFRASTRUCTURE WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED CONSISTING OF HOUSING SOLUTIONS, TRANSPORT TERMINALS, AND SEWERAGE SYSTEMS. HOUSING SOLUTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR 2200 FAMILIES IN THE GROWTH AND SERVICE CENTERS. SIX TYPES OF SOLUTIONS WILL BE DEVELOPED RANGING FROM SERVICED SITES TO COMPLETED TWO-BEDROOM UNITS. SUBLOANS WILL BE PROVIDED TO FUND CONSTRUCTION OF TRANSPORTATION TERMINALS. TERMINALS WILL INCLUDE SPACE FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING INTERURBAN BUSES, COMMERCIAL STORES, AND STORAGE OF FREIGHT. SEWERAGE SYSTEMS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN TWO SITES, PENONOME AND PUERTO ARMUELLES. THE GOP WILL ALSO FUND A PROG OF ART EDUC & HANDICRAFTS.