With one fell swoop, Pueblo this week began addressing a host of lingering business concerns: an under-utilized airport, the long-vacant Sperry building and a desire for more jobs, city leaders say.
The choice of Pueblo as the site for the U.S. Air Force's new Introductory Flight School also makes the city two-for-two in recruiting novel businesses: Late last year the city reached a deal to relocate the Professional Bull Riders headquarters to Pueblo from Colorado Springs by 2007.
In the same way city leaders view the bull riders tour as a way to help breathe life into the placid Historic Arkansas Riverwalk, where the city will build the tour a new headquarters office building, they view the Air Force pilot school as a way to elevate the now under-used airport area.
In developing the airport, "We're always fighting our proximity to Colorado Springs and Denver and we know we have a great asset and great infrastructure," Pueblo City Manager Dave Galli said, echoing the frustrations of many city leaders.
The pilot school changes the dynamics, Galli said.
The Pueblo Chieftain
The choice of Pueblo as the site for the U.S. Air Force's new Introductory Flight School also makes the city two-for-two in recruiting novel businesses: Late last year the city reached a deal to relocate the Professional Bull Riders headquarters to Pueblo from Colorado Springs by 2007.
In the same way city leaders view the bull riders tour as a way to help breathe life into the placid Historic Arkansas Riverwalk, where the city will build the tour a new headquarters office building, they view the Air Force pilot school as a way to elevate the now under-used airport area.
In developing the airport, "We're always fighting our proximity to Colorado Springs and Denver and we know we have a great asset and great infrastructure," Pueblo City Manager Dave Galli said, echoing the frustrations of many city leaders.
The pilot school changes the dynamics, Galli said.
The Pueblo Chieftain
