 Dr. Ron Pope, a political science professor at Illinois State University specializing in Russian politics (now retired), organized the project to showcase American construction materials and home building techniques, with the intent of fostering investment and trade opportunities.Vladimir was selected by Dr. Pope because of its relationship to Bloomington-Normal, one of Vladimir's sister cities.Materials were donated by more than 50 North American companies and volunteer labor was provided by 25 primarily central Illinois builders and Illinois State University Industrial Technology students.