The Local Economic Development Project assisted in creating 700 jobs in Moldova during several years. “Since 2005 until present, the project helped create 600 permanent and 100 temporary workplaces in all the 25 settlements in which the project was implemented. There were started 92 businesses,” project coordinator Margareta Vames told a summing-up news conference on March 5. “The project is aimed at the economic development of villages that can be achieved only by developing the entrepreneurial spirit,” Margareta Vames said, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. “We spoke with the backers and decided to support the already started businesses. But this does not mean that the entrepreneurs from other settlements will not be provided with advice,” Vames said. The businesses are offered assistance in creating the brand and formulating the marketing policy. “If need be, we will suggest changing the type of activity and the range of products because most of the supported producers do not manage to cross the borders of the neighboring settlements and the production is not adequately consumed,” said Stela Ciobu, expert working for the project. Last year, the project offered advice and financial support in starting 15 businesses that created 49 workplaces in Ermaclia, Vadul lui Isac, Carpineni and Cotova. The Local Economic Development Project has been implemented since 2005 by Contact Center in 25 Moldovan villages. The economic planning centers set up in every of these villages provides informational support to the local entrepreneurs. The villages also benefit from loans for non-agricultural businesses offered from a gyratory fund.