FACT SHEET

ON
HB16-1279
CONCERNING THE CREATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP PROGRAM
BY THE COLORADO OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
(Rosenthal-Newell)

What does the bill do?

This bill will create an international sister state relationship program in OEDIT whereby
Colorado would establish links with provinces outside of the U.S. It builds upon the success of
current sister city relationships that exist in cities across the state, including Colorado Springs,
Pueblo, Denver, and Arvada. These sister cities can then coordinate their efforts with OEDITs
sister state program, working together to pass information and contacts back and forth, and
have joint missions overseas in order to create efficiency and grow their programs. It is critical
to promote international business, tourism, and cultural and educational exchanges like this
because of the increasingly global world we live in and to showcase to business people and
tourists Colorados great diversity. Maryland has a Sister State programyou can read more
about its successes at: www.marylandsisterstates.org.
Why do the bill?
The bill revitalizes sister state relationships which were declared in the past but not followed up
on. In 1991, Gov. Roy Romer and the Province of Kangwon entered into a sister state
relationship, but it lapsed. However, in the past two years, OEDIT and James McGibney
(Honorary Consul of South Korea) have been working to re-energize the relationship including
sending a letter from Governor Hickenlooper to Governor Moon-soon Choi as well as an
introduction to Aurora Mayor Paul Hogan, who was visiting Seoul. There is also a sister-state
relationship with Yamagata Prefecture in Japan. The state has the potential to build upon this
relationship in order to leverage the programs in Colorado Springs and Denver which have
sister cities with Fujiyoshida and Takayama, respectively. As an indicator of the importance of
the global relationships established through sister cities, last October, Sen. Bill Cadman spoke of
the value of the Colorado Springs-Kaohsiung sister city relationship at an event to mark the
100th anniversary of the Taiwan independence. Kaohsiung is both a city and a province.
How much does it cost?
The fiscal note indicates that the bill can be accomplished within the departments current
resources.
Who is supporting it?
OEDIT, James McGibney (Honorary Consul General of S. Korea), and Denver Sister Cities.
Contact information:
Sen. Linda Newell--303.866.4846 and linda.newell.senate@state.co.us
Rep. Paul Rosenthal--303.866.2910 and paulrosenthal5280@gmail.com