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PEDCO reports active pipeline, highlights Saint Charles infrastructure need
Summary
PEDCO presented its semiannual update to city council, reporting roughly 15 inquiries since the last presentation, about 10 considered good prospects and several larger projects tied to site readiness and sewer upgrades at the Saint Charles Industrial Park.
Pueblo — Jeff Shaw, president and CEO of the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO), told the city council on Monday that PEDCO’s current pipeline includes approximately 15 inquiries since the previous public update, with roughly 10 considered “good prospects” and about seven projects likely to advance under favorable conditions.
Shaw said the combined projects in PEDCO’s active pipeline could equate to several hundred jobs (PEDCO estimated 300–400 under favorable outcomes) and an average aggregate wage around $73,000 plus benefits. He cautioned that utility and site readiness — especially adequate electricity, water and wastewater capacity — are the top factors companies use to evaluate Pueblo.
A key point in the presentation was infrastructure at the Saint Charles Industrial Park. PEDCO and councilors discussed the need for a new lift station, sewer upsizing and permits to pass beneath BNSF/UP railroad tracks to serve the park’s east side (east of CS Wind). Shaw said those upgrades are important for attracting larger industrial and manufacturing prospects; councilors urged advancing planning on those capital projects.
Shaw described PEDCO’s marketing: targeted outreach to site selectors and regional visits to Chicago, South Carolina and Phoenix, participation in the Front Range Collaborative and the International Economic Development Council, and work on clusters including aerospace/defense, rail-related manufacturing, outdoor recreation, food and beverage processing, and construction-related manufacturing. He said AI/data-center discussions are also part of PEDCO’s activity, reflecting national interest in hyperscalers and data-edge sites.
Councilors asked for PEDCO’s handout and data; Shaw agreed to provide the slide materials to staff for public posting. Council members emphasized accelerating wastewater and lift-station work so sites can be marketed as “development-ready;” PEDCO said it views the upgrades as critical and supported moving them forward.
There were no formal votes or commitments from council during the session; PEDCO’s update was informational. Council members requested follow-up briefings and a future executive-session presentation tied to a potential Petco-related project and the Saint Charles infrastructure plan.
Speakers quoted and who spoke in the meeting are listed below.
