For more than a decade, ICMA has facilitated partnerships between local government professionals in the United States and their counterparts in developing and transitioning countries. These partnerships are a key feature of ICMA’s CityLinks program, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.  

Through CityLinks, the partners work together to meet local challenges by developing management approaches tailored to local conditions.  And every year ICMA learns about relationships that began with a CityLinks partnership but endured long after the program funding ended. This is another in a continuing series of those success stories. 

The cities of Campbell, California, and Rioverde, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, were paired in 2001, when the program was known as Resource Cities. Although the official program ended, Campbell and Rioverde have continued their relationship for almost ten years, focusing on training, technical assistance, and the donation of surplus equipment and vehicles.  

Following a series of technical exchanges, the Campbell city council authorized the donation of three surplus vehicles and other surplus equipment to Rioverde, along with the donation of surplus fire equipment from the Santa Clara County Fire Department, which provides contract fire protection services to Campbell. Representatives of Rioverde traveled to Campbell in 2003 to collect the vehicles and transport them and the donated equipment to Mexico. 

Following several changes in administration in Rioverde, the two cities reconnected in 2007 when the new mayor at that time, Sergio Gama Dufour, contacted the city of Campbell with a request for donation of equipment and vehicles.  Over the course of several months, emails and photographs of equipment and vehicles were exchanged, culminating in a visit by the Rioverde mayor to Campbell in late 2007.

In early 2008, two surplus garbage trucks packed with high-quality surplus fire protection and emergency response equipment were transported via trailer to Laredo, Texas, where they cleared customs and were driven eight hours south to Rioverde by local officials.   

In 2010, another significant donation of surplus fire equipment was shipped to Laredo, where it was collected and transported to Rioverde for use by the Rioverde volunteer fire department. Campbell and Rioverde are currently working on another donation of equipment as well as coordinating a technical exchange for the current Rioverde administration. 

"We've enjoyed the ongoing relationship with Rioverde that developed out of the ICMA program,” says Campbell City Manager Dan Rich. “Sharing our city's professional knowledge and expertise with our neighbors has been a rewarding opportunity to help others.  At the same time, we benefit by looking beyond the borders of our own community, expanding our understanding of common municipal problems, and reflecting on the challenges facing local governments from a different perspective."

For information about opportunities to participate in CktyLinks partnerships, contact international@icma.org; for more information, visit the ICMA International website.