The Program of Good Practices of the Local Public Authorities of Moldova has announced a contest of the best projects implemented by mayors’ offices in 2008-2010, Info-Prim Neo reports. There will be selected two winning mayors’ offices in each of the three participation categories: good governance, strategic management of local communities and local economic development, the Program’s national coordinator Olesea Cruc said in a news conference. Deputy Minister of Construction and Regional Development Veaceslav Gututui said all the 898 mayors’ offices of Moldova should take part in the contest and exchange experience. Several communities can later implement the same project, contributing thus to efficient regional development, he added. Mayor of Selemet village Tatiana Badan, the head of the Congress of Local Public Authorities of Moldova, said there are many good projects implemented by the local authorities, but they are not known and encouraged. “The Program of Good Practices of the Local Public Authorities supports and encourages the local authorities. It is hard to work with a low budget and implement a project,” she said. Owen Masters, Council of Europe expert with the Confidence Building Measures Program, stressed that the local public authorities play a very important role. “They are closer to the people. Therefore, they manage to better engage the people in processes that affect their lives,” he said. The deadline for applications is November 19. The applications can be submitted to olesea.cruc@local.md, while the forms can be unloaded from www.local.md. The Program of Good Practices of the Local Public Authorities of Moldova was re-launched by the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul" with financial support from the Council of Europe through the Expertise Center for Local Governance. The contest is held the fourth year.