October 24 (SeeNews) - Ford Motor Company said on Wednesday it has inaugurated its first European Resource and Commitment Center in Romania's southern city of Craiova following a $1.1 million (960,000 euro) investment made over four years.
Designed to help create new jobs, improve the economic potential and the living standards of the residents in the historic region of Oltenia, the center was developed by the Ford Motor Company Fund with its international partner GlobalGiving, Ford said in a press release.
The new center is also the result of collaboration with the Association for Education SV Oltenia (EDUCOL), a local non-profit organization aiming to maximize entrepreneurial training and development opportunities for young people, and with Craiova city authorities, which provided the building.
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The Ford Motor Company Fund and GlobalGiving together have contributed an additional $100,000 to finance the renovation of the building.
"We are delighted to be able to work with EDUCOL and the City Hall to extend the Resource and Commitment Centers project in Craiova," Ford Motor Company Fund president Jim Vella said. "We want to work together to improve the lives of young people, providing access to opportunities and resources that help people reach their full potential."
Through the center, Ford will provide students and fresh graduates of the University of Craiova with an opportunity to build and launch innovative and sustainable social programs to encourage the progress and the economy of the community.
Ford entered Romania in March 2008 when it wrapped up the acquisition of a 72.4% stake in Automobile Craiova, the sole owner of car maker and distributor Daewoo Automobile Romania.
Us-based Ford Motor Company employs some 202,000 people worldwide.
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