Colima Sister City Program

Background

The Somos Pasco Economic Development Plan identified a broad range of categories for growth and development in Pasco, including enhancement of our diverse cultural assets. One strategy toward that goal is to establish a “Sister City” relationship with a Mexican community, ideally one from a region where many Pasco residents have their origins.

Sister City relationships take on many forms and levels of activity among participants. At the heart of an active and productive Sister City relationship is a steering committee of dedicated residents and businesses with direct interests to serve the goals and strategies of the relationship, including fundraising.

Depending on the capacity of each community, typical areas of exchange for sister cities may include:
  • Commerce, investment and trade
  • Cultural promotion and exchange
  • Tourism development and promotion
  • Municipal capacity development
  • Health and social resource exchange
  • Educational exchange
  • Science and Technology exchange
While the Port of Pasco spearheaded and funded Somos Pasco, most strategies require significant city participation and leadership. For that reason, this effort is a collaboration among the Port of Pasco, City of Pasco, and community members/businesses.

The staff workshop presentations represents this collaboration by the participation of Gary Ballew from the Port and Ana Ruiz-Peralta, a member of the Somos Pasco steering committee and Colima native.  This team has been in consultation with a team from Colima, led by Valeria Perez Manzo, Secretary of Social Development for the State of Colima.


Resources/Previous Discussion

For more information, contact Michael Gonzales, Economic Development Manager, (509) 545-3441 ext. 6311 or cell (509) 492-1246.