CHILE POWER Food Wars battle slopper vs. slopper E IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT Revitalization plans generate excitement Sailing Right Along Recreation options include lake, zoo, Riverwalk, rodeo Find out about the plethora of cultural activities offered in Pueblo. What’s Online SPONSORED BY THE GREATER PUEBLO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2011 | IMAGESPUEBLO.COM PUEBLO, COLORADO ®
Pueblo is the county seat and most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, and is the economic hub of southeastern Colorado. Pueblo is an international, multi-racial and multi-cultural community with a well-established Hispanic community that encompasses more than 40 percent of the population. One of the largest steel-producing cities in the United States, Pueblo is sometimes referred to as the "Steel City". And as the hometown of four Medal of Honor recipients — more per capita than any other city in the United States — Pueblo is also known as the "Home of Heroes." Located at the confluence of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek, Pueblo has been an important crossroads for transportation and trading for more than 150 years.
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CHILE POWERFood Wars battle slopper vs. slopper
E IS FOREntERtaInmEntRevitalization plans generate excitement
Sailing Right alongRecreation options include lake, zoo, Riverwalk, rodeo
Find out about the plethora of cultural activities offered
in Pueblo.
What’s Online
SPOnSOREd by tHE gREatER PuEbLO CHambER OF COmmERCE
On tHE COvER Lake Pueblo State Park Photo by Jeff Adkins
departments
8 almanac
34 biz briefs
36 Chamber Report
37 Economic Profile
38 Sports & Recreation
40 Health & Wellness
42 arts & Culture
44 Local Flavor
46 Education
48 Community Profile
2011 EdItIOn | vOLumE 17
PuEbLO, COLORadO
®
cOntents
Features
12 E IS FOR EntERtaInmEntRevitalization plans generate excitement.
16 CHILE POWERSloppers compete in Travel Channel’s Food Wars.
22 HEatIng uP tHE gRIdBusinesses take advantage of plentiful sunlight to trim energy costs.
26 LESSER knOWn RECREatIOn gEmSCity has excellent venues for family fun.
30 CuRREnt aFFaIRSVestas Wind Systems cites workforce, locale in choosing Pueblo for new plant.
22
26All or part of this magazine is printed on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.
please recycle this magazine
pueblo 5
Building a Better Colorado.
TOGETHER.
JOin Us.
BECaUsE wE all CaRE aBOUT COlORadO.
Gay & Lesbian Fund for ColoradoAdvancing Equality. Stengthening Nonprofits. Building a Better Colorado.
Support local and statewide nonprofits that make our state great.
Over our 15-year history, we’ve invested more than $24.8 million to improve the lives of all
Coloradans. We invest in nonprofits because we believe that Colorado is a better place to live, work,
and play when each and every person has the opportunity, support and resources they need to thrive.
The hundreds of nonprofit organizations in which we invest are committed to improving the quality of life for all of Colorado’s
residents. Our program areas include Arts & Culture, Healthy Families, Civic Participation, and Public Broadcasting.
iMPaCTinG YOUR COMMUniTY.SOME OF THE NONPROFITS WE SUPPORT IN SOUTHERN COLORADO INCLUDE:
See a full listing of the Colorado nonprofits we support at www.gayandlesbianfund.org.
• Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center
• Pueblo Child Advocacy Center
• Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation
• Pueblo Community Health Center
• Latino Chamber Development Corporation
• Southern Colorado Community Foundation
• Alzheimer’s Association of Pueblo
• KRCC 91.5 FM Public Radio
Arts & Culture
Civic Participation
Healthy Families
Public Broadcasting
Supporting fine arts and cultural awareness initiatives that enrich people’s lives and stimulate conversation, while challenging stereotypes and building bridges between diverse populations.
Support of programs that address basic needs of Colorado’s children, youth and families including mental, emotional, and spiritual health, and essentials like food and shelter.
Supporting public radio and television programming throughout Colorado to help promote and encourage intelligent dialogue around important issues facing our state.
A strong, inclusive, democratic society needs individuals who actively participate in their communities. That’s why we support civic education, leadership development, community activism and advocacy.
Juneteenth dayJuneteenth is celebrated in more than 200 cities in the united
States, including Pueblo.
June 19, 1865 is considered to be the date when the last slaves
in America were freed, and that day has come to symbolize for many
African Americans what the fourth of July symbolizes for all Americans.
Juneteenth day recognizes and honors black ancestry not for slavery,
but for the freedom that was rightfully passed to them.
Juneteenth has been occurring in Pueblo since 1981 and occurs at
the Colorado State fairgrounds family Park.
Viva Las Vegaselvis impersonators, rejoice. There are now direct flights connecting
Pueblo to Las Vegas.
Allegiant Air announced in August 2010 that nonstop jet service
between the two cities would begin oct. 7, 2010. The new flights
operate two times weekly – Thursday and Sunday – between Pueblo
memorial Airport and mcCarran international Airport.
flights depart Pueblo at 7:25 p.m. and arrive in Las Vegas at
8:25 p.m., and depart Las Vegas at 3:55 p.m. and arrive in Pueblo at
6:45 p.m. Allegiant Air uses twin-engine, 150-seat jets for all the trips.
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All Around the World
if you want an Asian adventure
without flying 10 hours to Asia,
then check out Pueblo zoo.
The year-round destination has
exhibits such as Asian Adventure,
Serengeti Safari, north American
Grasslands, the Australian outback
and World of Color. The zoo also
features a tropical rain forest and
an underwater viewing of
penguins, plus an islands of Life
shipwreck journey as well as a
Pioneer Ranch friendly farm.
Pueblo zoo is home to 400
animals from 140 species that
are living on 25 acres in Pueblo
City Park.
What’s Online Find out why visitors go wild over the diverse inhabitants of the Pueblo Zoo by watching a quick video at imagespueblo.com.
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entertainmente is FOrInItIatIvE WILL makE HEaRt OF PuEbLO a bOOm aREa
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historic buildings occupied by restaurants, shops and
apartments line union Avenue in downtown pueblo.
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excitement, enthusiasm, entertainment, enchantment, excellence, energy – everything.
The Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce has launched a new visitor destination initiative called
E District. The district is actually a geographic area in the heart of Pueblo that encompasses the Riverwalk, Pueblo Convention Center and the historic Union Avenue shopping district.
The initiative is an effort to further promote venues that already exist in the E District, plus plan several future projects to further enhance the area. Some of those proposed projects are huge.
“Our Riverwalk channel currently runs where E Street used to be, so this new initiative began with the old E Street name and then we started using all the other E words to market the effort,” Rod Slyhoff, president of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, says. “This newly named district has a lot of entertainment potential, and much of it will focus on attracting sports events.”
Expand and Establish more Hot SpotsSlyhoff says the chamber, city officials, urban renewal
officials, Destination Pueblo, the Pueblo Convention Center and other groups are now concentrating on expanding and establishing more venues that can be used for amateur sport competitions in the E District.
“First of all, there are expansion plans for a large exhibition hall inside the convention center where Pueblo can host large volleyball tournaments, karate tournaments, cheerleading competitions and wrestling events,” he says. “There are also plans to eventually construct a regional aquatic center and water park in the E District. The aquatic
center would have a lap pool for large swimming competitions, with spectator viewing. There is a growing demand for those types of aquatic facilities along the Front Range, and we want one.”
Pueblo already Welcomes SportsThere are also talks of the E District aggressively
attracting some big-name, sports-related retailers to settle along Union Avenue.
“Pueblo already is home to the Professional Bull Riders world headquarters, and the city hosts the annual 1A state boys and girls high school basketball tournaments, as well as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournaments,” Slyhoff says. “A large soccer tournament called the Sunbelt Classic also comes to Pueblo each year, along with the National Little Britches Finals Rodeo. We host a lot of sporting events – we just want to start hosting a lot more. We want to be a destination for athletic competitions.”
It’ll take time to developSlyhoff says E District is already within close proximity to
Pueblo Memorial Airport, and he believes several residents from Colorado Springs would make the 45-minute drive to Pueblo to attend sporting events once everything in E District is in place.
“This is a project that will take years in the development process, but we have already begun construction of a building that will house four restaurants and have office space,” he says. “E District is an exciting project – it’s already home to an inspiring Medal of Honor Memorial and a Walk of Valor. This district is a lofty vision that this community is dedicated to creating.”
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colorful international flags fly on union Avenue.
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union Avenue
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ChilePower
SLOPPERS COmPEtE In tRavEL CHannEL’S Food Wars
can one little pepper power a city?
In Pueblo, the green chile is a force to be
reckoned with. It’s the special ingredient many local restaurants find creative uses for, and it’s what brings 100,000 spectators to Union Avenue each year for the Loaf ‘N Jug Chile & Frijoles Festival. Most recently, the green chile brought the city some
national media attention on a Travel Channel TV show and helped earn Pueblo a spot on Livability.com’s Top 10 Surprising Foodie Cities list.
Chile Foods and FestsChile peppers are a mascot of sorts
in Pueblo. Nestled in the Arkansas River Valley, Pueblo has cool nights, hot days and frigid river water fresh from the Rockies, all of which contribute to
the mira sol variety of pepper, affec-tionately known as the Pueblo chile.
A large, f lavorful chile that is thick-skinned and easy to peel, these peppers are addictive! The zing you feel when you bite into a chile actually goes straight to your brain, which releases the natural painkiller endorphin to give the eater that “chile high.”
Locals and visitors feed their addiction every fall during the town’s
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Loaf ‘N Jug Chile & Frijoles Festival, the annual celebration of the array of peppers grown in the area.
“The festival has definitely increased the awareness of Pueblo’s chile crop throughout the region and state, thus increasing the demand,” says Juls Bayci, communications director for the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce.
Each year the farmers plant nearly 300 acres of chilies and close to 500 acres of frijoles. Farmers like Carl Musso of Musso’s Farm sell thousands of bushels of chilies worth tens of thousands of dollars at the fest.
Amid pepper-eating contests, cook-offs, craft booths and live music performances, the smell of farmers roasting chilies hangs in the air.
“It’s just getting bigger and better every year,” said Musso, who owns the oldest and most well-known chile farm in the area. Many restaurants feature Musso Farms chilies on their menus. The Musso Farms pizza, at popular local pizzeria Angelo’s, features sausage, pepperoni and chilies.
Hot, medium or mild, Pueblo’s chilies lend a little kick and a hearty f lavor when eaten plain, mixed into an entrée or atop a tortilla chip. And if you think there’s a limit to what chilies can do, consider Pueblo’s other concoctions, like green chili jams and jellies, breads, stews – even beer. Whether they’re fire roasted, barbecued or baked, Pueblo green chilies kick anything up a notch or two.
Sloppers get tv timeSmother a burger with the famous
chilies and top with raw onions and you’ve got a slopper, possibly Pueblo’s most unique contribution to the food world.
The origin of the messy meal (most often served in a bowl, to be eaten with a spoon) is a little cloudy. Although it is known to have originated in Pueblo, no one can agree on which restaurant was the first to serve it.
Today, a variety of Pueblo restaurants slop up sloppers, including the Pantry Restaurant on E. Abriendo
Fire roasting pueblo chilies
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Clockwise from top: handpicking chilies at musso’s Farm in pueblo; Annual loaf ‘n Jug chile & Frijoles Festival; the lunch crowd fills the tables at sunset inn bar & grill, the recent winner of a slopper showdown on the travel channel’s Food Wars.
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What’s Online Hungry for more?Visit imagespueblo.com for extra chile power.
• Take a video tour of Pueblo’s green chile slopper restaurants
• See a video of the annual Chile and Frijoles Festival
• Read about the Travel Channel’s slopper showdown
and Primetime Sports Emporium on W. 7th St.
In April 2010, Sunset Inn Bar & Grill and Gray’s Coors Tavern were contacted by the Travel Channel to compete, slopper vs. slopper, in an episode of Food Wars, the TV show that pits two eating establishments against each other in a competition to prepare a signature dish that is unique to their particular city.
“Travel Channel found out about the Pueblo slopper on the Internet and called us in early April 2010 to get everything in motion,” says Chuck Chavez, co-owner of Sunset Inn with his wife, Gerda.
More than 1,000 spectators were in attendance for the show’s taping at the spacious Pueblo Union Depot.
“A Travel Channel representative told me our business would never be the same after the episode aired, and she was right,” says Donnie Gray, co-owner of Gray’s Coors Tavern with his uncle, Gary Gray. “The episode was finally televised for the first time on Sept. 1, 2010, and we have done a booming slopper business ever since.”
By the way, the Food Wars winner was Sunset Inn, whose slopper consists of a three-quarter-pound patty, bun, melted cheese, shredded cheese, hot green chile, crackers, tortillas and onions.
“But honestly, we really make the best slopper in Pueblo – most people know that we do,” Donnie Gray says with a smile. “During the first couple weeks after the program was shown, we were selling about 1,500 sloppers a week. That’s why many people visit our tavern – to have a slopper. The show has been great for both places because many residents of Pueblo never visited Coors Tavern or Sunset Inn before the airing. Now they do.”
With a thriving alternative-energy business sector and plenty of local
companies building and rehabbing facilities to take advantage of natural resources, Pueblo’s going green at both ends of the spectrum.
With strong sunlight almost every day of the year, solar energy is leading the charge here. New technologies are allowing businesses of all sizes to add solar power arrays to their buildings, and the effort is proving to be worth the cost.
Solar array boosts Savings at andrews Foodservice
At Andrews Foodservice Systems, a new 100,000-square-foot warehouse is powered primarily by a 100,800-watt photovoltaic energy system designed and installed by Vibrant Solar Inc. It has 500 solar panels, and is expected to reduce Andrews’ electricity demand by at least 23 percent once it’s fully operational, says George Andrews III, president and chief executive officer.
“It went into operation in March 2010, and we anticipate that we’re going to see those savings,” Andrews says. “It’s already helping us with certain contracts, because we’re considered a ‘green’ company now, and so it’s good for us in a number of ways.”
Solar Roast Coffee breaks ground With Roaster
On the “small but mighty” side you’ll find Solar Roast Coffee, which was begun in 2004 by brothers Michael and David Hartkop. They built their first solar coffee roaster from an old satellite dish, and have been upgrading and expanding their groundbreaking technology to keep pace with the company’s success ever since.
“We’re currently in the process of developing our fifth-generation machine, and raising capital to build our first-ever roof-mounted roaster,” Michael says. “We’re going to build into a historic building downtown, where nobody’s done solar yet, so that’ll be our next step.”
black Hills Energy builds new gas-fired Plant
On a much more massive scale, Black Hills Energy also is utilizing natural energy, albeit from a more ground-up approach. The energy giant is building a new power plant to serve the Pueblo area, and will power the $500 million facility with natural gas, rather than coal, to lessen its environmental impact. The gas-fired plant is set to open by January 2012.
The plant’s ability to scale its output up or down depending on need is key to this area as solar-energy installations can sometimes cause spikes, says Christopher Burke, vice president of operations for Black Hills Energy-Colorado Electric.
“PV-solar is approaching the point at which it begins to make more economic sense for all customers,” Burke says, adding that the plant will be able to provide needed boosts in power if the sun is blocked by cloud cover, or the wind stops blowing to power turbines.
“The quick-response capability
PuEbLO buSInESSES takE advantagE OF PLEntIFuL SunLIgHt tO tRIm EnERgy COStS
The Grid
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Heating Up
the Andrews Foodservice systems distribution center is primarily powered by 500 rooftop solar panels.
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incorporated into the design of the Pueblo Airport Generating Station projects make its units ideally suited for this purpose,” Burke says.
CSu-Pueblo Leads With alt-energy Studies, Pilot Projects
The world of academia is also heavily invested in the region’s green future. Known as the “Green University,” Colorado State University-Pueblo has research programs in everything from alternative fuels and engines to atmospheric monitoring. CSU-Pueblo also has many physical manifestations of new technology, including an 18.9-kilowatt solar array that ties directly into the engineering building’s electrical system, new LEED-certified residence halls and an LED street lighting pilot initiative in the larger Pueblo community.
SECRES, CSu-Pueblo Sponsor Expo, Solar tour
The university also co-sponsors the annual REPowering Southern Colorado renewable-energy expo every August in tandem with the Southeast Colorado Renewable Energy Society, or SECRES. That kind of outreach to both the busi-ness and residential communities will be key in the city’s success as a growing new-energy hub, says Tom Corlett, a co-founder of SECRES and a principal in Sustainable Buildings Concepts.
“We want to keep doing things like the expo, and our annual National Solar Tour, that shows people projects that are functioning, and the savings that are being realized as opposed to just being forecast,” Corlett says. “Our goal is to show people that it’s actually working; the more we do that, the more people will want to come here, and we’ll become the solar capital of Colorado.”
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andrews Foodservice Systems is southern Colorado’s largest
commercial solar array.
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the staff at Pueblo Plaza Ice Arena plans to install a laser light show in late 2010 or early 2011. That light show should attract high school and college students to public skating sessions on Friday and
Saturday nights.It is one of several citywide recreational activities that
are being planned or are already in place throughout Pueblo.“The arena is open year-round and offers public skating
sessions, learn-to-skate classes, youth and adult hockey leagues, broomball and curling,” says Creighton Wright, director of parks and recreation for the City of Pueblo. “Not a lot of people know about everything that our beautiful arena offers, but the word is getting out more and more.”
Additional lesser-known recreational gems in Pueblo are as follows:
City Park disc golf CourseThis 18-hole course is in the northwestern corner of City
Park. It opened in 1999 and is the third-oldest disc course in the nation. City Park Disc Golf Course is open year-round from dawn to dusk, and there is no charge to play.
“The course is challenging with elevation changes, trees and other obstacles,” Wright says. “It is a registered member of the
CIty HaS unIquE vEnuES FOR FamILy Fun
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Walk in the parknot JUst a
From left to right: city park disc golf course; golfing at elmwood at pueblo’s city park
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Professional Disc Golf Association and has hosted the Colorado Disc Golf Championship. There could be 100 to 300 people playing the game at City Park on a given afternoon or weekend.”
City bark at City ParkThe 2.5-acre park opened in 2008 and the facility has
already won awards for its design. It features a water fountain, tables and benches, and is located at the west end of City Park between the two softball fields.
“City Bark is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and dogs can run free once they are inside the fence,” Wright says. “It’s a great place for both the dogs and their owners.”
Runyon FieldThis Pueblo County-run ballpark is just east of Interstate
25 off the Santa Fe exit, north of Runyon Lake. There are two high school-sized baseball fields and two junior-sized baseball diamonds.
“Runyon Field was established in 1938 and Babe Ruth played an exhibition game at the park that year,” Wright says. “It is named in honor of former Pueblo resident and noted newspaperman Damon Runyon, and continues to be a great baseball destination and sports gem for our community.”
kiddie RidesAt City Park across from the main entrance to Pueblo Zoo,
a Kiddie Rides attraction is open to all residents and visitors, and is one of the best family values in the city.
“There are 12 rides for little kids, and the two favorite rides are a carousel and a train,” Wright says. “The carousel dates back to 1911 and costs 50 cents to ride, and the train goes around Horseshoe Lake and also costs 50 cents. All other rides are 25 cents, so a family can have an enjoyable afternoon or evening for around $10. It’s one of the lesser-known recreation gems in Pueblo that help make this city such a nice place to live.”
Residents enjoy year-round access to ice skating at pueblo plaza ice Arena.
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AffAirsCUrrent
vEStaS WInd SyStEmS CItES WORkFORCE, LOCaLE In CHOOSIng PuEbLO FOR nEW PLant
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When you’ve got it all, people notice.
In Pueblo’s case, the stars aligned brilliantly when work began to lure Vestas Wind Systems to town. Vestas, the world’s
biggest supplier of wind-powered systems, was looking for a U.S. location for its new wind-turbine component manufacturing plant, which would be the world’s largest. The company wanted a central location, an alternative-energy savvy city, a quality workforce and an involved, engaged local and state government presence. In Pueblo, it got all that and then some, Anthony J. Knopp, vice president of Vestas Towers Americas Inc., says.
Workforce, Location key to vestas decision“Pueblo is centralized to our customers, and the
transportation structure here has greatly reduced our costs to move our products,” Knopp says. “We also found state and local governments that would strongly sponsor our technology, and support our industry.”
Since opening in early 2010, the 670,000-square-foot, four-building Vestas complex has begun to ramp up production, sending out its first product in May. The company is only using 300 of its 800 acres, so growth will be easily managed in the future. Early projections called for a 500-employee starting point, and the company is well on its way to meeting
A large wind turbine stands in front of the new vestas Wind systems manufacturing plant in pueblo.
that goal. In fact, employees and employee training were other major draws for Vestas when it began researching Pueblo, Knopp says.
“We were looking for a location where we could find metalworking employees with a background and similar skill sets to what we needed,” Knopp says. “There are five generations of people who have worked in the steel industry here. We knew that we could take and mold those people into what we needed, that we could train them into our culture.”
Pueblo Community College Reworks, adds training Programs
Vestas found a capable partner in Pueblo Community College, which already had a well-established workforce-training program, and the two entities quickly boosted those synergies with contract instructors for specialized jobs, and other custom applications tailored to meet the new plant’s needs.
“We worked with their consultant, who had put together a spreadsheet of skill sets that about wallpapered half my office,” John C. Vukich, dean of PCC’s Economic & Workforce Development Division, says. “We had about a 60 percent overlap in terms of things we were already capable of doing, and we accomplished the remaining areas by bringing in outside sources or building up our own staff.”
The college only had a few months to put programs into place before mid-2009, when the training needed to begin, but was able to meet the goal. That success gives local economic-development officials a real boost when talking to companies that may work alongside Vestas, or are in entirely different fields, Vukich says.
“We can build further from this platform, and it’s huge that our people, no matter who the employer is, can show that we have a skilled workforce, and that we can train them here,” he says. “Now we have this big success to tout, and it’s a tremendous calling card for our community.”
employees of vestas manufacturing wind turbines
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Biz Briefsbusinesses – both lARge And smAll – thAt
help deFine pueblo’s economic climAte
StOEHR CLEanERSBiz: Dry cleaningBuzz: Stoehr Cleaners has several convenient locations throughout Pueblo, with all stores open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Services include leather and suede cleaning, extensive shirt service, alterations and drapery cleaning. Stoehr will even go to a customer’s house for in-home cleaning tasks. The company also does reweaving, wedding gown preservation and zipper repairs, as well as water and smoke damage service. (719) 543-3360
scorecardbuSInESS at
a gLanCE
$1.1 billionannual Retail Sales
$9,708Retail Sales
Per Capita
$176 millionannual Hotel
and Food Sales
10,032total Firms
Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts
Shirley Saddoris Broker
The Realty Post 8875 3R Rd. Beulah, CO 81023 (719) 485-3333 phone/fax(719) 250-7519 [email protected] www.TheRealtyPost.net
Call me for all your real estate needs!
visit ouradvertisersAmerican Medical Response www.amr.net
Associates in Women’s Health Carewww.associnwomenshealthcare.com
Azteca Apartments
Board of Water Workswww.pueblowater.org
C&C Disposalwww.ccdisposalco.com
CK Surgical LLCwww.ck.md
Colorado State Fairwww.coloradostatefair.com
Colorado State Universitywww.colostate-pueblo.edu
Gay & Lesbian Fund for Coloradowww.gayandlesbianfund.org
Greater Pueblo Chamberwww.pueblochamber.org
Greenlight Tavern
Hampton Inn & Suites Pueblo Southgatewww.hamptoninnpueblo.com
Northstar Engineeringwww.northstar-co.com
Parkview Medical Centerwww.parkviewmc.org
Praise Assemblywww.pueblopraise.org
Pueblo Community Collegewww.pueblocc.edu
Pueblo Convention Centerwww.puebloconventioncenter.com
Pueblo Economic Development Corporationwww.pedco.org
St. Mary Corwin Medical Centerwww.stmarycorwin.org
The Realty Postwww.therealtypost.net
Wingate by Wyndhamwww.wingatehotels.com
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HEaLtH aCCESS PuEbLOBiz: Affordable health careBuzz: Health Access Pueblo is an initiative started by proactive leaders in Pueblo to create a local nonprofit organization that will offer comprehensive, high-quality coverage to the working uninsured.www.healthaccesspueblo.org
aLI’I managEmEntBiz: Office space brokerBuzz: Ali’i Management Inc. provides on-site management and on-site maintenance staff, and offers lease incentives for qualifying tenants. www.aliimgmt.com
CIgaRS LImItEdBiz: Cigars and accessoriesBuzz: The store on South Union Avenue features a large array of cigar-related items, including more than 50 well-known brands from around the world. Besides fine cigars, Cigars Limited sells premium tobacco, cutters, lighters and select pipes. There is also a humidor on-site set at an ideal 64 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 percent humidity, so that all of the cigars are guaranteed optimum flavor. (719) 542-4300
FLOWER avIatIOnBiz: Airport servicesBuzz: Flower Aviation is based at Pueblo Municipal Airport and offers a variety of services to private aircraft owners. The company has car and limousine rental, a conference room, comfortable lounge with fireplace, a weather computer, f light planning room and in-house catering. Flower Aviation also offers aircraft services such as deicing, defueling, oxygen and nitrogen tanks, and a spacious hangar.www.floweraviation.com
tHE WatER COmPanyBiz: Clean-tech water treatmentBuzz: This homegrown enterprise uses an electrical separation system for reducing contaminants and impurities from water. The Water Company is mostly known for its wastewater treatment system that includes a process invented by Pueblo native Brian Elson, who continues to lead the research operation. www.wtrcompany.com
chamber reportmembeRs pRAise gReAteR pueblo chAmbeR oF commeRce
arnold gallegos says whenever a convention or festival arrives in Pueblo, the staff at Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce recommends that visitors contact his company. Those recommendations result in a great deal of business for him.
Gallegos is president and owner of Shuttle Service of Southern Colorado, and has been a chamber member since 1999.
“Yes, the chamber throws me a lot of shuttle business – in fact, they use me exclusively for charters to and from the main parking lot at the annual Loaf ‘N Jug Chile & Frijoles Festival,” Gallegos says. “They have also called me to transport several legislators to and from Pueblo Memorial Airport. Being a Pueblo chamber member has many advantages.”
bob nicholson, owner of Southwest Brokerage Corp. and a chamber member since 1974, thinks the biggest value of the Pueblo chamber is that they are the marketing arm of the city.
“Those folks market to prospective residents, companies and employees who might be considering Pueblo as a new home,” Nicholson says. “That kind of growth is vital to our economy, and the chamber is always trumpeting what Pueblo is all about. Their staff attends trade shows, organizes events
to bring people to Pueblo, and does promotional pieces such as Images Pueblo magazine. I will remain a chamber member as long as I’m in business.”
Elizabeth gallegos, owner of Euphoria Salon, sponsors an event each August called Free Kids Cut Day. It provides free haircuts to any child throughout Pueblo, and the chamber is a major promoter of the proceedings.
“This event results in free haircuts to about 200 kids, and the chamber helps pass out f liers and posts the event on their website, where the information is very easy to access,” Gallegos says. “One nice story is that in 2009, we gave haircuts to several children in one family and saved them $75, and the mother told me that she was then able to buy new shoes for all her children for school.”
Gallegos, a chamber member for 10 years, adds that the Pueblo chamber also asks for feedback from all small business owners in an effort to help make those businesses more successful.
“The chamber often e-mails helpful information and helps my business in many other ways,” she says. “I had my best year ever in 2009 and expect the numbers to be just as strong in 2010, and I credit the chamber with assisting with my overall success. I will always be a Pueblo chamber member.”
– Kevin Litwin
greater pueblo chamber of commerce staff
36 imAgespueblo.com pueblo 37
taxES
3.5%city sales and use tax
1.0%county sales tax
2.9%state sales tax
7.4%total sales tax
EduCatIOn
6,049Associates
9,069bachelors
5,544graduate
ECOnOmIC RESOuRCES
Pueblo Economic
development Corporation
301 n. main St.
Pueblo, Co 81002
(719) 544.2000
www.pedco.org
greater Pueblo
Chamber of Commerce
302 n. Santa fe Ave.
Pueblo, Co 81003
(719) 542-1704
www.pueblochamber.org
InCOmE
$19,827per capita income
$43,978Average Annual household expenditure
tRanSPORtatIOn
Pueblo memorial airport
31201 Bryan Cir.
Pueblo, Co 81001
(719) 553-2760
Pueblo transit
123 Court St.
Pueblo, Co 81003
(719) 553-2727
WORkFORCE
82%White collar Jobs
18%blue collar Jobs
ECOnOmIC OvERvIEWPueblo has a low cost of doing business – among the lowest in
America – which is a key reason why more than 50 companies
have located here in recent years. Pueblo serves as the southern
boundary for the state’s major business growth corridor, better
there’s plenty to do in pueblo, no matter what you’re in the mood for. Those who prefer to spend their downtime in or around water can visit the scenic Lake Pueblo State Park, or take a trip down Pueblo’s Whitewater Park. The historic Arkansas Riverwalk, Pueblo zoo and the nature & Raptor Center of Pueblo offer plenty of sights to behold. And for some family fun, the national Little Britches finals Rodeo never fails to entertain.
lake pueblO and Other Water recreatiOn
Lake Pueblo State Park, the most visited state
park in Colorado, is an aquatic hot spot, with more
than 60 miles of shoreline and 4,500 acres of
surface water. The lake is ideal for water sports of
all kinds, including jet skiing, tubing, wake boarding,
boating and parasailing. north Shore marina offers
608 boat slips, the Water Street Cafe and a Ship’s
Store that sells snacks, toys, sports equipment,
boating parts and water rafts. South Shore marina
offers 400 boat slips, a covered patio area with
propane barbecue grills and a general store for
groceries, snacks and boating equipment. River
surfers are a new crop of water enthusiasts making
waves in the area. Thanks to Pueblo’s Whitewater
Park, the area is quickly becoming Colorado’s main
surfing destination. The venue provides great waves
and eddies in one central location.
histOric arkansas riverWalkThe historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo is another
popular attraction in Colorado, although it offers much
more than mere waterworks. The 32-acre downtown
Riverwalk includes a scenic walkway, outdoor amphi-
theater, nature center, small shops, cafes, artworks
and the just recently opened Veterans Bridge. Residents
commonly visit the Riverwalk to exercise on its various
pathways. Pontoon boat rides are the most favored
activity of tourists. The Riverwalk is always abuzz with
community involvement. There is outdoor enter-
tainment every friday and Saturday night from may
to September. An outdoor farmers market also provides
food and entertainment throughout the summer.
pueblO zOO and the nature & raptOr center OF pueblO
The Pueblo zoo, located in City Park, treats
guests to a scenic stroll through the habitats of more
than 420 animals of 140 species. Visitors can get up
close and personal with farm animals at the Pioneer
Ranch, or see a shipwreck journey to habitats around
the world at the islands of Life exhibit. The nature &
Raptor Center of Pueblo, located in Rock Canyon,
also provides visitors with a wealth of wildlife viewing.
A variety of animals and plants are housed within the
center’s blend of natural habitats, allowing guests to
observe, explore and enjoy nature.
natiOnal little britches rOdeO assOciatiOn
family, fellowship and fair play form the creed
of the national Little Britches Rodeo Association.
nLBRA participants range in age from 5 to 18, allowing
entire families to travel and experience the rodeo
rush together. The annual national finals Rodeo is
held at Pueblo’s Colorado Sate fairgrounds, where
about 900 contestants compete to receive more
than $60,000 total in scholarship prizes. nLBRA is
not only a source of entertainment in Pueblo, but is
also an important tool for community enrichment.
– Julianna Edmonds
aquatic thrills to natural marvelspueblo oFFeRs An AssoRtment oF RecReAtionAl options
(719) 545-1226 office(719) 545-9631 dispatch
www.amr.net
911 Patient Care and Transport
Interfacility Patient Transfers
CPR Classes • Community Awareness Programs
Special Event Standby Services • Wheel Chair Transportation
Critical Care Transport • Bariatric Patient Transport
New Service:Mobile Health Care for
Private Business
Providing Advanced Life Support Ambulance Service to Pueblo County Since 1994
meeting the health-care needs of the Pueblo community, two medical centers and one emergency care facility provide quality health care to the area.
parkvieW medical center
founded in 1923, Parkview
medical Center serves Pueblo
County and 14 surrounding
counties, or approximately
350,000 individuals. The
nonprofit medical center, part
of Parkview health Systems inc.,
is locally owned and governed.
Parkview medical Center offers
350 general acute-care beds, as
well as 20 beds for those in need
of long-term care. The region’s
first certified Stroke Center is
available to patients, in addition
to a Level ii Trauma Center. The
medical center also provides
cardiac, women’s, emergency
and neurological services, with
behavioral health programs also
available. nutritional services,
including diet instruction,
education, planning and analysis
are offered to patients and visitors
alike. Spiritual care is also
provided, assisting families with
end-of-life issues, sacraments
and offering counseling plus
other services.
parkvieW- pueblO West
Parkview-Pueblo West is a
stand-alone emergency
department open 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. Patients can
expect to receive the same level
of care they enjoy at Parkview
medical Center, with board-
certified emergency care
physicians and nurses who
specialize in emergency care
on staff. Patients will also have
access to the same resources
that are available in the medical
center’s emergency department,
including laboratory services,
radiology and CT scan, and
respiratory therapy. The
18,000-square-foot facility, built
on a 35-acre parcel, may expand
in the future as needed.
st. mary-cOrWin medical center
Converted from a two-story
boarding house into a hospital
in 1882, St. mary-Corwin medical
Center is a 408-bed facility
serving the city and county
of Pueblo, as well as southern
Colorado and the neighboring
states of new mexico, kansas
and oklahoma. St. mary-Corwin
medical Center provides a flight
for Life helicopter base, a
comprehensive cancer center,
a stroke center and a variety
of other resources. The facility
recently underwent a $59 million
expansion, creating a new
emergency department, an
innovative intensive care unit,
enhanced diagnostic services
and 112 private patient rooms.
– Jessica Walker
health care Options growingmedicAl And emeRgency cARe centeRs seRve pueblo
parkview medical center
42 imAgespueblo.com pueblo 43
Arts & Culture
Rosemount museum
An
To
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Bo
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42 imAgespueblo.com pueblo 43
rich in arts, culture and history, Pueblo offers a variety of museums, festivals, events, performing arts centers, historic sites and more.
pueblO museums and histOric sites
To see where Pueblo began,
visit the el Pueblo history museum,
which showcases the city’s history
and the region’s various cultural and
ethnic groups. its “Song of Pueblo,”
an oratorio by daniel Valdez, is a
live, multi-media concert that relates
the city’s story through narration,
music, and images.
featuring art created by local,
regional and nationally recognized
artists, the Sangre de Cristo Arts
& Conference Center includes a
three-building complex with six
galleries, as well as the Buell
Children’s museum.
The Steelworks museum offers
a variety of exhibits related to
the Colorado fuel and iron Corp.
museum guests can enjoy artifacts,
photos, activities and educational
programs.
The Rosemount museum is
a 37-room mansion, built in 1893
and formerly home to the John A.
and margaret Thatcher family. The
mansion contains almost all of its
original furnishings, accessories
and paintings.
The Pueblo medal of honor
memorial, located outside the
Convention Center on heroes
Plaza, is home to the statues of
Pueblo’s heroes, as well as the
names of more than 3,400
medal of honor recipients.
Preserving, restoring and
displaying military aircraft and
artifacts, the Pueblo Weisbrod
Aircraft museum offers more than
100 display cases and exhibits.
pueblO Festivals and events
The Pueblo Chile & frijoles
festival is held in downtown
Pueblo and features music, fun
and food. festival-goers can also
enjoy the works of many local
artisans and craftsmen.
A western-themed event, the
Wild Wild West festival offers
family-friendly activities, including
concerts and cook-offs. While the
festival is held throughout Pueblo,
the majority of events take place
on the Riverwalk and the union
Avenue historic district.
The Colorado State fair features
carnival rides, exhibit halls, contests
and concerts. Attendees can also
enjoy livestock, horse and small
animal shows, as well as parades
and a rodeo.
The national Street Rod
Association’s Rocky Street Rod
nationals, which is the region’s
largest street rod automotive
event, is held at the Colorado
State fairgrounds each year.
perFOrming artsThe non-profit organization
Pueblo Performing Arts Guild
supports the performing arts all
around the city by collaborating
for marketing, performances, and
education opportunities, raising
awareness in the community, and
promoting and providing
educational opportunities
in the performing arts.
A nonprofit corporation, the
Steel City Theatre Company pro-
vides modern, quality productions
for public enjoyment.
The damon Runyon Repertory
Theater Company offers live theater,
children’s theater, adult and children’s
workshops, dinner theater, murder
mysteries and an art gallery.
historic memorial hall seats more
than 1,600 for live plays, concerts
and more. The hall is also where
President Woodrow Wilson made
his last speech in 1919. Pueblo
voters recently approved funding
for the renovation and expansion
of the hall, with an expected
completion date of fall 2012.
histOric arkansas river prOject
The historic Arkansas River
Project serves as a heritage
tourism destination. The area,
located in the heart of downtown
Pueblo, includes sculptures,
statutes, ceramic murals, and
stone and bronze fountains.
bishOp castleWhile it may have started as a
family construction project, Bishop
Castle is now a southern Colorado
tourist attraction, open from dawn
until dusk seven days a week. The
castle is named for Jim Bishop, the
builder of the structure.
– Jessica Walker
getting culturedpueblo oFFeRs A vARiety oF cultuRAl Activities And expeRiences to Residents And visitoRs Alike
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Local flavor
a slopper is a slopper, right? not according to 23 restaurants that are members of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce. Rod Slyhoff, president of the Pueblo chamber, says all 23 restaurants have a different version of the slopper, and for one main reason. “it’s the green chili,” Slyhoff says. “everyone’s green chili recipe is different in their taste and the way they make their chili. Almost all of the recipes are handed down from generation to generation and perfected along the way, and highly guarded. And all 23 restaurants are independently owned and operated – there are no chain restaurants. That’s why there are so many different and unique recipes.”
thin Or thick chiliA slopper is a hamburger patty weighing one quarter to three quarters
of a pound, with a bun on the bottom, and usually served open faced in
a bowl. it is then covered with red or green chili, although most people
in Pueblo prefer green. The slopper can also have cheese and onions
and other various toppings, but it’s the green chili that gives it the
distinct flavor.
“The chili can also range from being really thin to really thick,” Slyhoff
says. “Some restaurants use potatoes to thicken it, while others use a
roux of corn starch and milk to thicken it, and a couple places even use
refried beans.”
in addition, the green chili can be served mild, medium or hot.
“for example, if i have a slopper at Jorge’s Sombrero or at Papa Jose’s
union Cafe, i ask for half medium and half hot chili,” he says. “it’s just a
perfect mixture for me.”
serves him rightchAmbeR pResident dishes on sloppeRs
do you agree?According to the Travel Channel’s show Food Wars, Sunset Inn serves the best slopper in Pueblo. See what you think by trying all the varieties of sloppers the city has to offer. Contact the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce for a list of all Pueblo restaurants that proudly serve this sloppy specialty. (719) 542-1704 or (800) 233-3446 www.pueblochamber.org
sunset inn’s version of a slopper
44 imAgespueblo.com pueblo 45
What’s Online Get a load of these sloppers! See varieties of the local delicacy up close in a video hosted by Rod Slyhoff, chamber president, at imagespueblo.com.
slOppers With persOnality
The 23 restaurants also have
distinct names for their respective
sloppers.
“Romero’s Café serves a Green
Giant Slopper, and mad hatter Bar
& Grille sells a mad Slopper,” he
says. “There are some pretty
funny names, too, such as the
Sloppy Cocker at Cock & Bull
Tavern, and the Thunder humper
at Gold dust Saloon.”
Future slOpper daysSlyhoff adds that the chamber
plays up the slopper whenever
it can.
“The chamber is planning
to organize a Slopper days
Celebration that will tentatively
begin in 2011 and will become an
annual event,” he says. “And for
now, residents or visitors to
Pueblo can go online at our
www.pueblochamber.org website
or visit our chamber office on
north Santa fe Avenue to get
a brochure of all the restaurants
that serve the slopper. That way,
a person could try different
sloppers all over the city. By
the way, i’m working on having
a slopper at all 23 locations. So
far, they’re all excellent.”
– Kevin Litwin
papa Jose’s union cafe
mad hatter bar & grille
46 imAgespueblo.com pueblo 47
education
pueblO schOOl district 70As the largest geographical school district in Colorado, Pueblo School
district 70 educates more than 8,000 students from Pueblo County.
The district includes four high schools, six middle schools and 12
elementary schools, as well as two charter schools, an alternative
middle school, an alternative high school and seven preschools.
Schools in this district work to integrate technology into class
instruction in order to enhance each student’s educational experience.
pueblO city schOOlsmore than 18,000 students are enrolled in Pueblo City Schools,
formerly known as district 60.
This district includes four high schools, five middle schools and
19 elementary schools, in addition to two k-8 schools and three
international magnet schools.
Pueblo City Schools’ high school students follow block schedules,
in which the students attend fewer classes each day for longer periods
of time.
learning in pueblostudents enJoy educAtionAl oppoRtunities in theiR community
learn morepueblo school district 70 www.district70.org
pueblo city schools www.pueblo60.k12.co.us
colorado state university-pueblo www.colostate-pueblo.edu
pueblo community college www.pueblocc.edu
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pueblo is rich with educational opportunities, boasting two exceptional public school districts as well as two first-rate higher education institutions.
new Ways to SucceedCHaRtER SCHOOLS OFFER EduCatIOnaL aLtERnatIvES
the public and private
schools in Pueblo are
second to none in terms of
achievement. There’s also a
third network operating within
and alongside them; charter
schools that are giving students
another option for a first-class
educational experience.
The Cesar Chavez network,
which includes dolores huerta
Preparatory high School and
Cesar Chavez Academy Public
Charter School, as well as The
Connect Charter School in
district 70, are all examples of
how public-private partnerships
thrive here.
The Chavez Academy has
received the James irwin Award
and the el Pomar foundation’s
award for excellence in education,
and provides full educational
services for grades k-8. it also
has an after-school program,
cultural and community studies,
extended day and extended
year learning, tutoring for all
students and extracurricular
activities ranging from track
and field to choir and mariachi.
dolores huerta Preparatory
high is a tuition-free public
charter school that also boasts
multiple awards and
achievements, and is justifiably
well known for its successful
early-college program, as well
as participate in and even
complete certification programs.
for the middle grades, The
Connect Charter School in
district 70 consistently makes
multiple “best of” lists. it has a
string of John irwin awards, as
well as being named a Colorado
sustaining school several times.
– Joe MorrisSTA
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46 imAgespueblo.com pueblo 47
cOlOradO state university-pueblO
With approximately 5,000
students enrolled, Colorado State
university-Pueblo sits on more
than 275 acres in the northeastern
portion of the city of Pueblo.
Students enjoy a small
professor-to-student ratio, with an
average of 25 individuals in each
class, and can choose from 28
undergraduate programs in the
College of Science and
mathematics, the hasan School
of Business, the College of
humanities and Social Sciences,
and the College of education,
engineering and Professional
Studies. more than 70 clubs and
organizations are available to
students as well.
on the athletic field, with 16
varsity intercollegiate sports, the
university competes at the nCAA
division ii level and is a member
of the Rocky mountain Athletic
Conference.
pueblO cOmmunity cOllege
Pueblo Community College is
a two-year community college
that offers associate’s degrees,
certificates in a variety of
programs, and is a state leader
in health-care education.
Students can study Arts &
Sciences, Business & Technology
and health Professions, with 60
completed semester hours required
to obtain an associate’s degree
and a minimum of two courses
necessary to earn a certificate.
in addition to its main campus,
Pueblo Community College has
campus’ located in Canon City,
durango and Cortez Colorado.
– Jessica Walker
colorado state university
48 imAgespueblo.com
CLImatE OvERvIEW
The Pueblo County growing
season is 180 days, but the
county’s elevation range
(4,400 to 12,000 feet) can
influence what can be grown
in different areas. Crops such
as alfalfa, corn, melons,
onions, peppers and tomatoes
thrive throughout Pueblo
County, but all require
supplemental water.
january Low temperature 14 f
january High temperature 48 f
july Low temperature 52 f
july High temperature 91 f
tImE zOnE
mountainSIzE In SquaRE mILES
2,398pueblo county
numbERS tO knOW
division of motor vehicles (719) 543-5164
(719) 543-5165
Recyling environmental health
(719) 583-4323
voter Registration Colorado dept. of Revenue
(719) 543-5164
HOuSEHOLd InFORmatIOn
total Population, 104,175
males, 49,652
females, 54,523
Age less than 25
35,105
Age 25-34, 14,586
Age 35-44, 12,222
Age 45-54, 13,422
Age 55-64, 11,134
Age 65-74, 7,800
Age greater than 75
9,906
White, 82,707
Black, 1,471
hispanic, 48,711
other, 14,523
COSt OF LIvIng
$37,246median household income
$94,500median home sale price
$668estimated gross Rent for a two-bedroom Apartment
COmmunIty OvERvIEWThe air in Pueblo is so clean that residents often can see purple
mountains’ majesties from 70 miles away. That is one of the
numerous advantages of living in this city with clean water, a
nationally ranked school system and reasonable home prices.