Small Historic Cities Development Project
The Project goal is to increase the tourism potential as a catalyst of socioeconomic growth and sustainable development of nine small historic cities through comprehensive development of some parts of their territory and infrastructure as well as preservation and promotion of cultural heritage.
The Project includes the following historic settlements: Arzamas (Nizhny Novgorod Oblast), Chistopol (Republic of Tatarstan), Gorokhovets (Vladimir Oblast), Rostov (Yaroslavl Oblast), Staraya Russa (Novgorod Oblast), Suzdal (Vladimir Oblast), Torzhok (Tver Oblast), Tutaev (Yaroslavl Oblast), and Vyborg (Leningrad Oblast).
Project implementation period: 6 years
The Project consists of the following components:
Component 1: Establishment of Historic Settlement Culture Centers Based on Selected Urban Fragments in Historic City Centers
This Component includes comprehensive activities in parts of the historic settlements (urban fragments) to establish their culture and tourism development centers.
The funds shall be used, inter alia, to: rehabilitate cultural heritage sites, including those owned by the regions and municipalities; reconstruct and construct other sites to recover lost historic development patterns in the protected zones (spatial regeneration); adapt the rehabilitated, reconstructed and newly constructed facilities, including installation of necessary service and support equipment; perform landscaping works and local improvements; and upgrade related utilities and transport infrastructure.
Component 2: Urban Infrastructure and Ecological Improvement to Increase the Attractiveness of Historic Settlement for Visitors and Local Population
This Component shall finance small municipal infrastructure subprojects to increase tourism attractiveness of the historic settlements. The funds shall be used, inter alia, to: perform landscaping works and local improvements; improve the water ecosystem in several ponds; establish walking routes, architectural lighting of buildings/facilities, and a visitor navigation system; rehabilitate cultural heritage sites, including those owned by the regions and municipalities; and establish (construct/reconstruct/rehabilitate) infrastructure projects, including parking lots, pedestrian zones, embankments, quays, cable cars, and bridges.
Component 3: Marketing and Branding
This Component aims to improve the attractiveness of the Participating Cities by developing and implementing their marketing strategies. It includes the following areas of financing:
hiring of a Marketing Consultant to develop the marketing strategy for each Participating City, and implementing the marketing strategy developed by the Marketing Consultant.
Component 4: Project Management and Monitoring
Project implementation is supported by a loan from the New Development Bank (BRICS) and federal budget funds. It is also expected that additional funds will be allocated by the participating regions, municipalities and private investors.
The Project can have a significant impact on socioeconomic development of the small historic settlements. It would support the development of culture, tourism and education, increase investment in the tourism industry and create favorable living conditions in the historic cities.