PATOS, JULY 11, 2013    Today U.S. Ambassador to Albania, Alexander Arvizu and USAID/Albania Mission Director, Jim Barnhart, traveled to Patos to visit several USAID projects in the region.

The Ambassador met with the Mayor of Patos, Rajmonda Balili, and members of the Citizen Advisory Panel, a citizen-based consultative body for the Municipality. Patos is one of 15 municipalities that USAID is providing assistance to through its planning and local governance project. Through US assistance, USAID is working with Patos on a number of issues, including urban planning, tax computerization, and water utility business planning.  Water is a critical issue in Patos, as a majority of inhabitants do not have water service at all, and the few who do have water for only 2 to 3 hours per day.

The Ambassador also participated in a dedication ceremony at the PICARI footwear factory in Patos. USAID provided the company a small grant to support investments in new technologies, which have resulted in increased jobs for people in the area and allowed for the company to begin manufacturing its own collections of footwear.

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