Pueblo Chamber of Commerce wants more money to bring events to Pueblo

The National Little Britches Rodeo Finals is saying farewell to Pueblo and hello to Oklahoma starting next year.

The Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce said it doesn’t want to lose another big event that benefits the city.

The rodeo has been at the Colorado State Fairgrounds for 11 years and generates about $3 million into Pueblo’s economy.

“Since we are losing it, we need to go out and get in the market to find something to replace it,” Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce President Rod Slyhoff said.

Slyhoff said he wants the chamber to have a bigger budget through the lodger’s tax, which is imposed when someone rents a hotel room in the Pueblo city limits.

“We have some national events that are looking at Pueblo, but those are really competitive and it requires some extra dollars to bring them here,” he said.

Currently, the chamber’s budget is at $350,000. Next year, it wants to boost the budget up to more than $500,000 since the city made $1,160,000 from the lodger’s tax last year. Slyhoff said that’s the highest it has ever been.

Slyhoff wants to use the money to find a citywide salesperson who will go out and promote Pueblo at large conventions and other events.

The chamber president is also hoping expansions at the Arkansas Riverwalk will draw in people and events to Pueblo. He said when people say they been to Pueblo, they usually say they went to the Riverwalk.

Amber Wilson is from Arkansas and was watching her son compete in the rodeo this week. She said she likes the attractions Pueblo has to offer. Wilson said she is looking forward to Oklahoma, but she will miss Pueblo.

“We have mixed emotions about it. We make a vacation to come out here every year, but it’s only a 3 1/2 drive from our house,” she said.

The chamber is creating a phone application that will promote Pueblo. It is set to go live in September.