SUPPORTIVE AND SMART CITY
JELGAVA by Marta Vebere | Marta.Vebere@dome.jelgava.lv Photo: City of Jelgava
Jelgava is the fourth largest city in Latvia and significant centre of economics, education, entrepreneurship and culture. The city is an attractive place for business since it is located in an advantageous geographical location, crossed by six motorways and passenger and freight railway lines.
Entrepreneurs as needed were exempted from municipal property rent as the city has entrepreneurs of various industries that lease premises, land and movable property from the municipality for their activities, such as catering providers in schools. Also the term for payment of tax on immovable property was prolonged for a month and a half.
Support, sustainable thinking and action from the municipality are very important at a time when the city, its inhabitants and entrepreneurs are affected by an emergency situation that can affect both the inhabitants and the economy of the city itself.
Support for education and families
In response to emergency situation, Jelgava City Municipality developed support tools for both residents and entrepreneurs, actively informing about it in the municipal newsletter, on the city’s website and on social network accounts. Information centre and support by phone Very important support tool is Jelgava Municipality Operative Information Centre, which uses comprehensive communication, information exchange and analysis mechanisms that provide direct communication between city residents, infrastructure managers, operational services, state and municipal institutions, commercial companies and the Civil Protection Commission. The number of calls that centre received increased significantly during the month when emergency situation was declared – by 200 to 300 calls comparatively to previous months. In addition, a special telephone for psychoemotional support was set up. 12
Private preschool educational institutions and nannies received full municipal funding by taking into account that until the emergency situation, municipal funding to private institutions was paid in proportion to children’s attendance. During the emergency, it was maintained in full, regardless of attendance, thus preserving jobs for all employees. Students of Jelgava’s educational institutions, whose families have been financially affected by the crisis caused by Covid19 and have been granted the status of needy or low-income person, as well as the city’s large families, each week received support for meals – a food package of 12 euros. Persons who were unable to provide for their basic needs during the emergency period, and one calendar month after the end of the emergency, were granted an allowance of 80 euros per family member per month. Not only entrepreneurs but every inhabitant of Jelgava must be supported not only financially but also emotionally, showing their importance in cooperation with the municipality. Involvement of the population in both emergency prevention and everyday matters was marked by creativity in the annual event important to Jelgava – the city festival, which is celebrated every year in May. Creativity played a big role, and the festive atmosphere was ”transferred” to the virtual environment.
