Coachella begins sister cities agreement with Mexicali

Coachella and Mexicali are now sister cities. Coachella city leaders joined Mexicali officials to seal the deal over the weekend in Mexico. The goal is to exchange resources to help meet each city’s needs.

“We’d like to find ways to strengthen what we want and what they want,” said Mark Weber, Coachella economic development manager. “With Coachella being 96 percent Hispanic, it has a natural connection with Mexicali. It makes a lot of sense for us to be connected with them. We need to grow that connection.”

City leaders said the agreement should give business, tourism, education and culture a boost. Developing more access to affordable healthcare top of mind.

“Their tourism agency is interested in medical tourism. We really see that need of having additional medical services our citizens feel comfortable with. Going down to Mexicali, you have U.S. trained doctors and great medical services. The cost is just a lot cheaper in a lot of cases,” said Weber.

Weber said agriculture is already a key player in the relationship.

“We already have businesses who grow or produce there. We want to strengthen that as growers and packers want to do that. We’ve already coordinated with the Date Farmers Association with what we’re doing,” said Weber.

With the agreement, the City of Coachella wants to improve and speed up the time it takes to cross the border to re-enter the U.S.

“Sometimes you have to wait hours to get across the border. It’s pretty easy to go to Mexico, it’s pretty hard to come back. That also impacts business. If it’s difficult for trucks and vehicles to make it across the border, it delays business. Time is money,” said Weber.

Weber said the sky’s the limit the cities will see what steps to take next.