Sister Cities, It’s for Small Towns Too

In my travels, I have seen quite a few communities with sister cities. A simple Google search reveals a wide variety of large cities with sister cities. Some may believe that having a sister cities program is something regulated to larger communities due to the potential work load involved. But smaller towns can benefit from having a sister city as well.

Sister cities are often thought of as ceremonial gestures, a handshake and a signpost. But for communities clawing for relevance, growth, or just a simple understanding of their community’s heritage, these partnerships can be powerful tools. They are an invitation to share ideas, expand opportunities, and remind ourselves that rural innovation doesn’t happen in isolation.

What is a Sister City?

Many of us have heard of a “sister city”, but what is it really?

Generally, a sister city is a formalized partnership between two cities that promotes the cultural, diplomatic, or other ties the two communities have in common. Although not always true, sister cities are typically from different countries, providing a bond between communities that are geographically far apart but have many similarities. The agreements between the cities involved help the exchange of people, ideas, and resources that help to foster cultural and economic growth for both communities.

Benefits of Having a Sister City

Having a sister city relationship gives a community a front-row seat to another community’s past. You have a direct connection to that community’s experiences and what they have learned. Many of your questions can be answered:

• How did they revitalize downtown?
• What worked for their tourism strategy?
• How did they revitalize their downtown?
• How did they attract new families or support local entrepreneurs?

Your exchanges between you and your sister community can be mutually beneficial. Together, you can share the pitfalls and what has worked on a variety of topics like:

• Cultural exchange and community pride
• Educational opportunities
• Economic development and business opportunities
• Tourism promotion
• Sharing solutions to common problems
• Building future leaders
• Grant and funding opportunities
• Strengthening a community’s global network

Challenges facing rural communities are often shared. Through your connection with your sister community, potential solutions to the problems of aging populations, talent drain, disinvestment in the downtown, and housing can be conceived. Sometimes the most transformative idea comes from a town several states away, or halfway around the world.

Some Examples of Communities with Sister Cities

Cole Camp, Missouri

One of the first communities that I visited on my annual road trip this past summer was Cole Camp, Missouri. This small community of just 1,172 residents had a clear German feel as you walked though the community’s downtown. Places like Handel Haus and the German Table are obvious reminders of the community’s heritage.

However, what really tells the story is the Immigrant Memorial just east of downtown. Not your typical veteran’s memorial, the Immigrant Memorial celebrates those first settlers to the area with German roots. Many of the migrants to this area came from the northern German province of Lower Saxony (Hanover). Yet, that’s not the part of Germany that Cole Camp’s sister city comes from. Elmsdorf rests roughly 38km west of Cologne, near the border with Belgium.

Cole Camp’s sister city, Elmsdorf, Germany is celebrating its 1,000th birthday in 2024

Washington, MO

Another community that I visited on that road trip was Washington. Though Washington will forever be known in my head as the community where I was stranded when my truck broke down, it’s a great town along the banks of the Missouri River.

Washington’s sister city is Marbach am Neckar, a city of about 16,000 residents north of Stuttgart, Germany. The city is situated along the Neckar River, a major tributary of the Rhine, one of the commonalities between these two communities. Washington’s website has a wealth of images and links to more information about its sister city. It is one of the better sister city pages I have seen for a small town.

Lindsborg, KS

Looking back to my 2024 road trip, one of my main targets was Lindsborg, Kansas. Widely known in Kansas as “Little Sweden USA”, Lindsborg emanates the Swedish heritage of its founders in nearly every aspect of the community.

In addition to the word “Valkommen” and the Dala Horse on the community’s entrance sign, Lindsborg proudly displays the name of its sister city as well. Munkfors is a town of just over 3,000 just north of Karlstad in southern Sweden. Like Washington, Lindsborg has committed a page on its tourism page to the sister city partnership with Munkfors.

Steps to Obtain a Sister City

For communities interested in taking those first steps toward creating a sister city partnership, the process isn’t as daunting as it may seem. It doesn’t require a massive budget or someone in your community with existing connections to the motherland. It just requires leadership, dedication, and a desire to build relationships with others…nearby or across the world.

Here are some simplified steps toward creating a kinship with a sister community. It is not a definitive path. But it provides a rough path to look down as you start the journey:

1. Create a Team

Creating a successful partnership with a community halfway across the world is no simple task. It depends on many people carrying the load. Hence, it is important to form a committee to take a deeper look into the work necessary and decide who shoulders each task along the way. Typically made up of a wide cross-section of civic leaders, educators, business owners, and residents who care about the community’s future, they need to meet on a regular basis throughout the process.

2. Set Your Goals

Just acquiring a sister city should not be your goal. A sister city program will not survive if you don’t have goals related to that objective. Do you want to expand on the cultural heritage of your community? How about learning from another town’s economic development strategies? Maybe the goal is to strengthen tourism. Clear goals help you find the right partner, in the U.S. or across the world.

3. Connect with Sister Cities International or other Regional Networks

Next, immerse yourself in Sister Cities International. This organization helps match towns with potential partners that share similarities in size, industries, heritage and/or aspirations. They aren’t the only resource though. Some regions also create local or state-level sister city networks to help rural towns find the right fit.

4. Start the Discussion

Once you find a community that is the right fit, start the conversation. Through emails, phone conversations, or virtual meetings you can get a better feeling for the community you are connecting to. This is a great time to share basic information about your community, including community profiles, photo galleries, videos, and more. But don’t overwhelm your potential sister city, build the relationship at a pace that works for both communities.

5. Formalize the Relationship and Make Future Plans

Once both communities decide they are a good match for each other, it is good to formalize the relationship with a simple agreement or memorandum. An agreement makes the partnership official and opens up the possibility for joint projects, exchanges or funding opportunities. With an agreement in place, you can start conceiving the next steps. Relatively simple activities can build momentum. These can include:

• Passing a proclamation proclaiming the relationship
• Creating student pen-pal program
• Developing a cultural exchange exhibit
• Conducting a virtual town hall meeting
• Sharing economic development ideas
• Co-hosting a community event online

Celebrate Your Connection

Once you have a sister city connection, it is important to celebrate that relationship. Cultural exchange programs, student visits, and cross-community events allow towns to stand a little taller and say, “This is who we are.”

Having a sister city is something to be proud of. Celebrate it and learn from each other. It is a beneficial connection that can have a positive impact on both communities!