OREANDA-NEWS. Metinvest Group increased financing of its “We Improve the City” program by 25% to UAH 4.5 million in 2013. Metinvest, together with the project initiators, has attracted more than UAH 8 million to develop the cities where it operates.

The number of participants in the “We Improve the City” program increased again this year. Four-hundred and eighty applications were received from non-governmental organizations, municipal institutions and city residents. Ninety-five of the projects were selected for implementation, most of which focus on promoting healthy lifestyles and promoting sports for children and youth. City residents were interested in improving recreational areas, and in environmental, cultural and creative projects.

This year, for the first time, program participants received training in social project design and management skills. A total of 510 residents of cities where Metinvest operates took part in the trainings. The project's geographic reach also expanded: Zaporizhya, Makiivka, and Petrovske (Kirovohrad region) joined Avdiivka, Yenakiieve, Mariupol, Khartsyzsk, Komsomolsk, Novhorod, Krasnodon and Kriviy Rih.

The winning projects were selected by an expert council, which consisted of representatives of local communities, businesses and organizations, and leading experts in sustainable development. Every winning project will receive between UAH 15,000 and UAH 100,000 from Metinvest to implement their projects. All of the projects will be implemented before the end of 2013.