Photo: Gottfried Hoffmann, taken from Wikimedia Commons, license: CC BY 3.0

The German city of Eisenhüttenstadt, located on the country's eastern border right by the Oder River and not far from Poland, has launched an innovative project aimed at attracting new residents.

The city is offering free accommodation for two weeks to anyone considering relocation, with the goal of increasing the population and revitalizing the local community.

This initiative, called „Make Plans Now”, allows selected candidates to stay free of charge from September 6 to 20 in a fully furnished apartment in the very center of the city. Applications are open until the beginning of July, and the project is intended for a wide range of people, from returnees and daily commuters to self-employed entrepreneurs and qualified workers seeking a change of environment, writes CNN.

During the two-week stay, participants will have the opportunity to get to know everyday life, job opportunities, and the community of Eisenhüttenstadt. The city has prepared various activities for them, including a city tour, a visit to the local steel factory, and group excursions, to help them get acquainted with the surroundings and their potential future home.

Special emphasis has been placed on connecting participants with the local economy. Companies from Eisenhüttenstadt offer internships, job shadowing opportunities, and job interviews, opening the door for participants to permanent employment and staying in the city. Eisenhüttenstadt has a rich history. It was founded in 1950 as the first fully planned city in what was then East Germany, and it was built around a large steel mill that still employs around 2,500 people today. The city was once called Stalinstadt, before receiving its current name after the reunification of Germany.

Like many other places in the former East Germany, Eisenhüttenstadt is facing a population decline. The figure has fallen from a peak of over 50,000 to around 24,000, which has prompted the city authorities to adopt innovative measures like this to attract new residents.

In addition to its industrial significance, the city is also known for its unique socialist architecture. Many residential blocks from that period are now protected as historical monuments, and the openness of the urban plan attracts architecture enthusiasts from all over Europe.