WABASH, Ind. (WFFT) - Mayor Scott Long will sign a sister city agreement Tuesday, making Wabash one of the first Indiana communities to officially adopt a sister city in Ukraine.
The agreement will be signed with Mayor Volodymyr Moskalenko of Korosten, of the Zhytomyr Oblast (Oblasts can be thought of as U.S. states).
The city of Monticello will secure a relationship with Liubar, Zhytomyr Oblast on Monday.
With both Ukrainian communities located in the same oblast, opportunities will be open for regional collaboration both here and in Ukraine.
The signing is part of a larger effort to explore fostering sister-city relationships with multiple countries.
The City of Wabash has been working with an experienced consultant to research and build relationships in Japan, Germany, and others.
"As Mayor of Wabash, one of my goals is to better prepare our students and community to compete globally. The relationships that I began building in Asia, beginning in 2018, have made tremendous strides towards that goal," Long said.
Building a relationship with Korosten falls in line with Long's vision of 'Opening the world to Wabash and Wabash to the world.' The agreement will help build and grow the relationship between the cities with a focus on business, cultural affairs, and education, among other initiatives.
"A community of our size can compete with larger communities, when we work with our local partners, such as Wabash City Schools, to foster student exchange opportunities, foreign language study opportunities, and working with local foreign-owned companies," Long continued, "Attracting foreign direct investment into Wabash and Wabash County is the best way to position ourselves for success well into the future."
Sarah Delgadillo, the City of Wabash's point of contact for education, cultural, and international business said, "As Wabash's first sister city, this partnership displays Wabash's deep roots as a forward-thinking and innovative city. Wabash will work closely with leaders of Korosten, Ukraine to support and mentor its local government. We're thankful to the staff of The International Center in Indianapolis and the USAID HOVERLA Ukraine Sister Cities program for helping to bring this partnership to fruition."
President/CEO of Grow Wabash County, Keith Gillenwater, stated, "Building stronger relationships abroad brings about greater opportunities for success and prosperity for both communities involved. As we continue to show the world all the great things Wabash City has to offer, sister city relationships, like the one we are entering into with Korosten, will help Wabash County grow in its abilities to compete in the global economy and establish itself as a destination for business and cultural growth."
