Bad Orb is presenting a pilot project for a public-private partnership at the Hessian State Representation in the government district.
In recent years, Bad Orb has established itself as a national pioneer in innovative concepts for spa medicine and in repositioning itself as a destination. Bad Orb recently showcased its numerous infrastructure projects in the fields of medicine, education, sports, and hospitality at the Hessenfest in Berlin. In particular, the close collaboration between the city, the spa association, and the non-profit ALEA initiative is regarded as a model project for so-called public-private partnerships. At the Hessenfest, held at the Hessian State Representation in Berlin’s government district, Hessian companies, associations, media outlets, and numerous members of the Bundestag and the Hessian State Parliament come together to represent Hessian culture and business in the capital.
Bad Orb in excellent company: At the Hessenfest on Wednesday, the spa town presented its flagship projects for repositioning the region alongside Hessian pioneers such as Merck, Fraport, and Mainova. In particular, the infrastructure projects BALNOVA (a bathhouse with a diagnostic center including radiology and a physical therapy center), CURA SILVA (a therapeutic forest), ALEA PARK (green-blue infrastructure with parks and green spaces for the city’s economic, ecological, and social future), and ALEA SCHOOL (an international educational project) generated significant interest in the state capital.
Hesse’s Minister-President Boris Rhein (CDU) said: “I am pleased that municipalities are presenting themselves as hubs of social interaction at the Hessenfest in Berlin. The city of Bad Orb has presented an exciting collaborative project between government agencies and private companies at our state representation office. It thus serves as an example of how a municipality can combine natural and cultural assets with innovative commitment to the future.”
Bad Orb showcased its brand identity as a spa and medical destination through its forward-looking projects, BALNOVA and CURA SILVA. Nina Warken (CDU), Federal Minister of Health, and Diana Stolz (CDU), Hessian Minister for Family, Seniors, Sports, Health, and Care, also took notice of Bad Orb’s initiative to reinvent the spa experience at the town’s booth.
Hesse’s Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs, Armin Schwarz (CDU), who was already present last Friday at the opening ceremony of ALEA SCHOOL, reiterated: “With the ALEA SCHOOL educational initiative, Bad Orb brings additional appeal to us here in Hesse. The city and private stakeholders have recognized both the opportunity and the need to make this educational hub attractive to local children as well as to children – and thus families – from all over the world by establishing an international school.”
Bad Orb Mayor Tobias Weisbecker, who represented his city in Berlin, was delighted by the overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding the concept of Orb: “We are the first spa town to be invited to present ourselves at the Hessenfest. This shows that Bad Orb is doing a lot of things right and is recognized nationwide as a ‘best-practice example.’ This should motivate us to continue building on our appeal and our reputation as a spa destination.”
Johannes Wiegelmann, who represents Constituency 174 (Main-Kinzig – Wetterau II – Schotten) in Berlin as a member of the Bundestag, welcomed Bad Orb’s presence in the capital: “Private commitment to the common good is needed now more than ever. Bad Orb and ALEA are setting an example here. The initiative is creating infrastructure that will last for generations, thereby strengthening a rural region with great development potential.”
