Region 7
Region 7 – Pueblo County
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Pueblo Region (Region 7), consists of a single entity: Pueblo County. With a land area of 2,400 square miles, Pueblo County ranks 13th-largest of the 64 Colorado counties. Of Colorado’s planning and management regions, it ranks the smallest in geographic size. In terms of total population, Region 7 ranks 5th-largest of the 14 regions. Pueblo County’s 2000-2010 compounded annual population growth rate of 1.2 % makes it the 8th-fastest growing region.|
Originally founded as an adobe trading post, Pueblo became the center of Colorado’s industrial economy in the late 19th century. Known as the “Pittsburgh of the West” because of its steel mills, Pueblo attracted job-seeking migrants from all over the world, giving the city a diverse ethnic character that persists today. With this rich history, Pueblo continues to be dominated by manufacturing companies, and Pueblo County thrives on ranching and farming.
The trends of job growth by business sector reveal accelerated growth over the past year. From August 2010 to August 2011, the number of jobs gained in professional and business services was 500, educational and health services was 400, manufacturing was 400, and construction was 300. No sector experienced job declines of more than 100 jobs during this time interval. During August 2009 to August 2010, the educational and health services sector recorded the largest employment gain at 400 jobs.
VISION
The Pueblo Region’s vision is to promote Pueblo County area’s proven competitive advantages to companies and other sectors to help create jobs and help businesss thrive in Region 7 and the surrounding regions in Southern Colorado.
REGIONAL DATA & HIGHLIGHTS
Largest Companies by Employment
- Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel
- Trane Corporation
- Bechtel
- Vestas
Top 5 Key Industries by Employment
- Health and Wellness
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Transportation and Logistics
- Infrastructure and Engineering
- Financial Services
Top 5 Regional Assets
- Available/skilled workforce
- #1 customized workforce training program in the state
- Existing manufacturing cluster
- Central transportation routes and new Industrial Rail Park
- Pueblo Riverwalk