(PUEBLO, Colo.) — Colorado Governor Jared Polis was in Pueblo on Tuesday, June 24 to discuss the redevelopment of the former Pueblo Chemical Depot.
In 2016, state leaders made plans to transform the site into a center for manufacturing, research & development, and rail-related industry. Now, those behind the project are trying to update their development strategy, after the state decommissioned the military installation last year.
The depot closed the book on its 82-year history in Pueblo with a deactivation ceremony on Sept. 12, 2024, after successfully destroying its stockpile of more than 780,000 chemical weapons.
Developers said all ideas for redevelopment are welcome, as they try to create a plan that fits the community’s needs right now.
“It’s not every day that a 16,000 acre opportunity comes along, which is all together, all in an economic development authority already,” said Polis on Tuesday. “So it’s ready to partner, ready to get to work. We don’t have access to all 16,000 acres today… it’s growing over time as the Army vacates, but we’re already on there today with some jobs, and it’s only going to grow more from here.”
There will be another meeting on the complex at 6:30 p.m. Thursday night, June 26 in Avondale, at the McHarg Park Community Center.
