When Jose Jordán arrived in Pueblo, Colorado on January 30, he believed the city would be an excellent destination for a family getaway.

Jordán serves as the director of Economic Development and Competitiveness for Chihuahua, a city in northwestern Mexico and one of Pueblo’s six sister cities. He was part of a delegation consisting of over a dozen business and educational leaders from Chihuahua, who met with Pueblo officials, explored local institutions, and discussed ways to enhance the partnership between the two cities from January 30 to February 2.

During a conversation on January 31 with the Chieftain, Jordán expressed that Chihuahua is particularly interested in expanding its collaboration with Pueblo in areas of education and economic development, especially in sectors such as food and beverage.

“This could be a chance for us to create products right here in Pueblo,” he remarked. “This presents a significant opportunity for business people from Chihuahua. The educational aspect also offers potential because some topics taught here align with job and labor opportunities.”

The sister city partnership between Chihuahua and Pueblo has existed for about 34 years. Carlos Maldonado, a Chihuahua native and longtime Pueblo resident who accompanied the visiting leaders, played a crucial role in establishing this relationship.

Additionally, there have been exchanges between the police departments of both cities for training purposes, and Pueblo’s Real-Time Crime Center was modeled after a similar center in Chihuahua, as noted by Pueblo Sister Cities Commission member and Pueblo police Sgt. Franklyn Ortega.

“We took a group to Chihuahua to study their setup and how they implemented it,” Ortega stated to the Chieftain. “Our center is essentially a replica of their model. This ongoing relationship has been beneficial for both cities and their police departments.”

The partnership has also led to the establishment of a Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua (GCC) cement plant located at 3372 Lime Rd in Pueblo County.

“It is now the most environmentally friendly cement plant in Colorado,” Pueblo City Councilor Dennis Flores told the Chieftain. “Moreover, they are an eco-conscious company that uses tires and old rail ties for energy production.”

Looking to the future, representatives from both cities are optimistic that university exchange programs will thrive, bolstered by Colorado State University Pueblo’s recent decision to extend in-state tuition rates to residents from Pueblo’s sister cities.

During their visit, Chihuahua officials toured CSU Pueblo and Pueblo Community College. They also met with Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham, as well as representatives from the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO), the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Pueblo, and the Southern Colorado Economic Development District (SCEDD).

“You can do business with anyone, but it’s much simpler to work with a friend — someone familiar,” Ortega commented on the relationship, to which Jordán added, “and trust.”

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo. Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.