January 22, 2007 - The MOU Signing Ceremony between USAID and the mayors of 10 participating municipalities on January 23 will launch for USAID's new, four-year $7.3 million Local Governance Program in Albania. USAID Mission Director Edward T. Landau and the Mayors of Fier, Fushë Krujë, Gramsh, Himarë, Korçë, Kukës, Lezhë, Librazhd, Pogradec, and Shkodër will sign Memorandums of Understanding to outline USAID assistance.

January 28, 2009 - The Guidelines on the Administration of Local Taxes and Fees prepared by USAID's Local Governance Program was launched in a ceremony organized on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at the "Mondial" Hotel that brought together central and local government officials, representatives of several municipalities, tax administrators, tax department employees, donors, and other stakeholders.

The Guidelines on the Administration of Local Taxes and Fees will serve as a tool in the professional growth and training of local tax administrators and will directly support the success of local government finance reform. While developing the Guidelines on the Administration of Local Taxes and Fees, the Local Governance Program in Albania (LGPA) has taken into consideration the importance of this sector, and the fact that good administration of local taxes and fees requires clear procedures, transparency of operation, and a professional staff with integrity.

June 4th, 2009 In a signing ceremony attended by the Mayor of Fushe Kruja, Ismet Mavriqi; Deputy Minister of Finance, Florion Mima; USAID Mission Director, Roberta Mahoney, NCB Director Pekhan Isipek and Chief of Party of the USAID Local Governance Program in Albania the city of Fushe Kruja signed the first commercial loan to a local government unit in Albania.

This commercial loan was made possible with the assistance of the USAID project LGPA, as part of the technical assistance for local economic development and supporting the implementation of the local borrowing law.

November 10, 2009 The Municipality of Lezhe, with the support of USAID's Local Governance Program in Albania (LGPA) launched today a new computerized municipal tax system. The new tax system allows for more efficient and effective administration of tax collections and services that will lead to greater tax revenue for the city and improved services for citizens of Lezhe.

USAID/LGPA provided both technical and material support to the Lezhe Tax Department including over 3.6 million Lek in both IT hardware and software. With this support, LGPA is helping to improve the quality of local government.

October 23, 2009 - The creation of the Tourism Information Office (TIO) in Pogradec through a Public-Private Partnership, as a means to promote tourism by offering free and high quality professional tourism information services to the public.

The event gathered today in Pogradec representatives form Pogradec Municipality, USAID, Ministry of Tourism, Youth and Sports, donor projects in Albania, Pogradeci tourism related businesses and citizens. The opening remarks were provided by Mr. Artan Shkëmbi, Mayer of Pogradeci, Mr. James Berschaeit, representative of USAID/Albania, and Ms. Nada Kallciu, Director of Tourism Agency in the Ministry of Tourism, Youth and Sports. They all emphasized the importance of this office for the city and its tourism businesses. Municipality of Pogradec opened today the newly established Tourist Information Office. This office is foreseen to play a key role in tourism promotion that is the main tool to employment and economic development of the city.

LIBRAZHD, DECEMBER 11, 2009    Dozens of citizens, civil society organizations, businesses and students, volunteered to join the City of Librazhd and USAID, in a city-wide clean-up effort to jump-start the city's new service improvement action plan.

With the support of USAID's Local Governance Program in Albania (LGPA), the Municipality of Librazhd has embarked on an effort to improve public services for the community, particularly in waste collection and disposal.

FUSHE KRIJA, DECEMBER 17, 2009    Fushe-Kruje, with the support of USAID's Local Governance Program in Albania (LGPA) launched today a new computerized municipal tax system and a computerized Public Information Office. The new systems will provide greater access to information for the public in a customer-friendly environment.

Fushe Kruja's tax department, like so many other Albanian municipalities, had to do the majority of its work manually. With the new computerized system, the tax department will more accurately be able to calculate tax bills and track tax payments, and even develop the necessary revenue projections and analyses so important for city-planners and officials

SHKODER, DECEMBER 18, 2009    Artizania Shkodrane 2009 Handicrafts Fair was launched today in Shkodra. The three-day event at the Rozafa Palace featured different traditional handicraft products, textiles, traditional wool carpets, silver and copper jewelry and accessories, national costumes, embroidery, and handcrafted wood products.

The Fair was organized by the Intellectual Women of Shkodra (IWS), a grantee of USAID's Local Governance Program in Albania (LGPA) and supported by the Municipality of Shkodra.

SHKODER, MARCH 19, 2010. The Municipality of Shkodra opened today a new Tourist Information Office, as part of the city's ongoing tourism promotion efforts.  The office will offer free of charge, high-quality professional tourism information services to tourists and visitors.

Mayor Lorenc Luka and Mr. Stephen Herbaly, a representative of USAID/Albania, delivered remarks. Both speakers highlighted the importance of this office for the city and its tourism businesses.

GRAMSH, MARCH 05, 2010. Dozens of citizens, civil society organizations, businesses, and students have volunteered to join the city of Gramsh and USAID, in a city-wide cleanup effort to jump-start the city's new service improvement action plan.

With the support of USAID's Local Governance Program in Albania (LGPA), the Municipality of Gramsh has embarked on an effort to improve public services for the community, particularly in waste collection and disposal.

FIER, FEBRUARY 23, 2010 The Mayor of Fier, Mr. Baftjar Zaqaj, and USAID Officer Stephen Herbaly launched today a new computerized tax system for the municipality. The system was developed through USAID’s Local Governance Program in Albania (LGPA) program. It allows for more efficient and effective administration of tax collections and services that will lead to greater tax revenue for the city and improved services for citizens of Fier.

Until now, Fier’s tax department had to do the majority of its work manually. With the new computerized system, the tax department will more accurately be able to calculate tax bills and track tax payments

FIER, APRIL 22, 2010.    Under the slogan Give a Hand for a Clean City and in recognition of the international Earth Day celebration, today dozens of citizens, civil society organizations, businesses, and students took part in the first citywide clean-up in Fier.

The Earth Day event was made possible with the support of the Municipality of Fier, the private sector, and several international donors including USAID, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and OSCE. USAID contributed over $17,000 for large and small trash bins, cloth bags, and community outreach.  Two businesses, Bank Popullore and Euromarket, contributed money for trees and cloth bags respectively.

SHKODRA, APRIL 29, 2010     The Mayor of Shkodra, Mr. Lorenc Luka, and USAID Officer Stephen Herbaly launched today a new computerized tax system for the municipality.  The system, which was developed through USAID's Local Governance Program in Albania (LGPA), allows for more efficient and effective administration of tax collections and services that will lead to greater tax revenue for the municipality and improved services for citizens.

The tax system is part of a broader initiative to improve tax payer services at the municipal level. Shkodra recently developed, with USAID/LGPA support, a series of tax leaflets to inform business and citizens of their tax responsibilities, thereby simplifying the process for local tax payers.

KORCE/POGRADEC, MARCH 30-31, 2010  The Head of the USAID Mission in Albania, Joseph C. Williams, the Mayor of Pogradec, Artan Shkembi, and the Mayor of Korce, Niko Peleshi, launched new computerized tax systems in the respective municipalities. The system, which was developed through USAID's LGPA, allows for more efficient and effective administration of tax collections and services that will lead to greater tax revenue for the cities and improved services for citizens. Until now, both Korce and Pogradec's tax departments have done the majority of their work manually. With the new computerized system, the tax departments will more accurately be able to calculate tax bills and track tax payments...

ELBASAN AND GRAMSH, JUNE 17, 2010     The Mayor of Elbasan, Mr. Qazim Sejdini, the Mayor of Gramsh, Mr. Kastriot Zera, and USAID Officer Stephen Herbaly launched today new computerized tax systems in both cities. The systems, which were developed through USAID's Local Governance Program in Albania (LGPA), allow for more efficient and effective administration of tax collections and services that will lead to greater tax revenue for the cities and improved services for citizens.

Until now, both Elbasan and Gramsh’s tax departments have done the majority of their work manually. With the new computerized system, the tax departments will more accurately be able to calculate tax bills and track tax payments. The system also allows city planners and officials to develop important revenue projections and analyses for future city planning and development...

KUKËS, JULY 9, 2010     The Mayor of Kukës, Hasan Halilaj and the Head of the USAID Mission in Albania, Joseph C. Williams launched today a new computerized tax system for the municipality.  The system, which was developed through USAID's Local Governance Program in Albania (LGPA), allows for more efficient and effective administration of tax collections and services that will lead to greater tax revenue for the municipality and improved services for citizens. Until now, Kukes' tax department had to do the majority of its work manually. With the new computerized system, the tax department will more accurately be able to calculate tax bills and track tax payments, and even develop the necessary revenue projections and analyses so important for city planners and officials.  Computerizing the tax system will help the city improve tax collection and increase tax revenues so that Kukes can deliver higher quality services to its citizens. It will also reduce the number of one-on-one interactions with tax officials, which are cited as a source of corrupt practices.