Selected Events 2006

Dr. Rolf Müller-Syring (WILL), Dr. Greg Bischak (ARC) and Consul General Scheland atop the Halde Trages Observation Tower.

July 17, 2006
Dr. Gregory Bischak, senior economist for regional planning and research at the U.S. Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), visited Borna and several sites south of the city of Leipzig. County Executive Petra Köpping and the Economic Development Corporation of 'Leipziger Land' County hosted about 20 local officials as well as Federal Parliament (Bundestag) Deputy Christoph Waitz for Dr. Bischak's presentation on the economic development strategies pursued by the ARC since its inception in the mid-1960s. A lively dialogue ensued on parallels between the coal mining regions of the eastern United States and western Saxony. In turn, Ms. Köpping and local officials acquainted Dr. Bischak, Consul General Mark Scheland, US Commercial Service specialist Bettina Kutsche and Consulate interns with the "New Lakes" project to convert lignite mining craters to environmentally secure recreational and residential lakes. A half-day tour took the US delegation to Espenhain, the emerging Lake Hain, and Kahnsdorf, a village that proudly recalls its brief but pivotal role in the life of German playwright Friedrich Schiller.