When Jose Jordán arrived in Pueblo, Colorado on Jan. 30, he thought about how the city would make a perfect spot for a family vacation.

Jordán is the director of Economic Development and Competitiveness for the northwestern Mexico city of Chihuahua — one of Pueblo's six sister cities. He was one of over a dozen Chihuahua business and higher education leaders to meet with Pueblo elected officials, tour Pueblo institutions and discuss ways to strengthen the two cities' relationship between Jan. 30 and Feb. 2.

In a Jan. 31 conversation with the Chieftain, Jordán said Chihuahua especially wants to expand its cooperation with Pueblo when it comes to education and economic development in sectors like the food and beverage industry.

"I think it will be an opportunity for us to produce products here in Pueblo," he said. "I think that's a big opportunity for businessmen from Chihuahua. Also, the academic area is an opportunity because some of the topics you teach here in Pueblo... are related with the opportunities of labor, of jobs as well."

Chihuahua has maintained a sister city relationship with Pueblo for roughly 34 years. Chihuahua native and longtime Pueblo resident Carlos Maldonado — who also accompanied Chihuahua leaders over the weekend — was pivotal in kindling the relationship between the two cities.

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Additionally, Chihuahua's police department has made visits to train in Pueblo and the Pueblo Police Department has made visits to train in Chihuahua. Pueblo's Real-Time Crime Center also was inspired by a similar center in Chihuahua, according to Pueblo Sister Cities Commission member and Pueblo police Sgt. Franklyn Ortega.

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"We took some people to Chihuahua to look at their setup and how they did it," Ortega told the Chieftain. "It's pretty much a copy of what they did... It's a very beneficial relationship for both of the cities, both of the police departments."

The sister city relationship also yielded the arrival of a Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua (GCC) cement manufacturing plant at 3372 Lime Rd in Pueblo County.

"It's the cleanest cement plant now in Colorado," Pueblo City Councilor Dennis Flores told the Chieftain. "Plus, they are an environmental company in which they are burning tires and old rail ties (to produce energy)."

Looking ahead, representatives from the two cities are hopeful that university exchange programs will be bolstered by Colorado State University Pueblo's decision to offer in-state tuition to residents of Pueblo's sister cities.

Chihuahua representatives toured CSU Pueblo, as well as Pueblo Community College during their stay. They also visited with Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham, 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 technically do business with anybody, but it's a lot easier to do business with a friend — somebody you know," Ortega said of the relationship, "and trust," Jordán added.

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at [email protected]. Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.