The city municipality of Lazarevac, as the most important industrial center of Serbia, has always been faced with the challenge of planning its future. The great dependence of the lives of the inhabitants of the entire municipality on the development and stability of the Kolubara mining basin, the limitation of coal as a resource, but also the need for environmental protection, contributed to the fact that all efforts in the past period related to the development of other economic branches as well as the development of entrepreneurship were faced with challenges in terms of long-term stability, stability and perseverance.

On the other hand, although it is an industrial center, where a large part of the municipality is under the direct influence of coal mining, Lazarevac has other, primarily human as well as natural and infrastructural resources that, with good strategic planning and engagement, can contribute to the further development of the local community, thereby influencing the sustainable future of the municipality. 

The geographical position of Lazarevac and its connectivity, proximity to Belgrade as a large market but also to different target groups along with the even development of infrastructure in the rural area with the implementation of the goals outlined in the development strategies can further accelerate the development of the local community and give them a greater effect in the economic and social sense.

In this regard, one of the directions of development and the pillars of the future sustainability of the local community must be the diversification of the local economy, which will aim to make maximum use of all the potentials available to the municipality of Lazarevac, from human resources to natural and infrastructural potentials.

In accordance with the above, the Center for Support of Local Sustainable Development will, in its work, through projects and local initiatives, particularly strive to achieve the following goals that will contribute to the survival and sustainability of Lazarevac as an attractive environment for life and work:

1. Diversification of the local economy through projects that enhance the use of all other resources available to the municipality of Lazarevac

2. Improving the state of the environment - we believe that a healthy environment is one of the key prerequisites for the development and increase of the attractiveness of our municipality

3. Development of entrepreneurship - human potential is the main potential in any environment. It is estimated that each community has about 5% of the entrepreneurial population that has the potential to design, start and run their own business. Our task will be to reach as much of this population as possible, to help them in the initial stages of development and support them to create a successful business.

4. Development of agriculture - Developing an integrated approach to the development of agriculture and villages, by looking at the space with all its potential, will enable the definition of the role of each village, whether it will just be a place to live for employees in nearby urban areas or specialization in one or more branches of agriculture. Our goal is to provide support in the diversification of the economy in rural areas, encouragement of entrepreneurship and agricultural production, affirmation of conventional but also non-conventional products, adding value through processing and direct sales. We see tourism and recreation, as well as other small-scale services as a business activity in the countryside, as an opportunity that needs to be supported through project support.

5. Development of tourism - although Lazarevac is not an attractive tourist destination, it has certain potential (cultural-historical, natural, manifestations, etc.) which, with adequate planning and management, can become a significant driving force for the development of the municipality and other branches of the local economy.

6. Development of infrastructure - We believe that it is necessary to develop infrastructure that will have a multiplied effect on the economic development of the local community

7. Improvement of urban and integral planning of city development - integral urban planning of city development in the energy transition implies a comprehensive approach that includes the analysis of urban, social, economic and ecological aspects of the city. Key aspects of development include:
• Assessment of the current urban situation
• Development of the economy diversification strategy
• Alignment with energy transition policies
• Community and stakeholder involvement
• Sustainable urban planning
• Restoration and revitalization of industrial zones

8. Energy and fair transition - Lazarevac, as a predominantly coal region, should take advantage of the global trends of the energy transition, which we cannot influence, but we can get involved in initiatives and projects that give us the chance to more efficiently and effectively plan the sustainable future of our municipality, use the knowledge and experience of other cities and municipalities throughout Europe, which have gone through or are going through the same processes, as well as in the future use funds that will be specially created for these purposes. This is a long-term process that will last 20 years and has a chance of success if we start now. Our position is that these global processes represent an opportunity for our municipality, not a threat, with the condition that all relevant factors get involved in time and understand the seriousness of the situation.