City of Tacoma Deepens Cultural Ties with Croatia, Designates Split as New Sister City
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~ Tacoma City Council Passes Resolution Designating Split, Croatia as Newest Sister City

In a significant move for global citizen diplomacy, the Tacoma City Council has officially designated Split, Croatia as the city's newest Sister City. This decision marks a milestone in Tacoma's more than 55-year history of international partnerships.

According to Mayor Victoria Woodards, Split is an ideal match for Tacoma due to its similarities in size, coastal geography, and economic drivers such as tourism. She also highlighted the strong connection between the two communities through the many Tacoma residents with deep ancestral roots in Dalmatia and other parts of Croatia.

The selection of Split as Tacoma's new Sister City came after a thorough search for a partner city that shares similar attributes. Like Tacoma, Split is a vital port city with a focus on Adriatic and Mediterranean transportation and ferries, complementing Tacoma's emphasis on Asian cargo trade.

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To ensure a successful partnership, the resolution also formally concludes Tacoma's Sister City relationship with Hvar, Croatia. While this relationship was established in 2015, it faced challenges due to a lack of responsiveness from local officials in Hvar. This prevented the collaboration from flourishing and ultimately led to the decision to transition to Split.

The transition was initiated by a Letter of Intent signed by both Mayors in October 2023, demonstrating a commitment to an active, responsive, and mutually beneficial relationship between the two cities.

Sponsored by Mayor Victoria Woodards, this new designation is expected to bring about opportunities across various sectors. These include cultural exchange programs that will strengthen connections for residents of Croatian descent, economic development through shared interests in port operations and tourism, and education and sports initiatives that will create new pathways for youth and student exchanges.

More information about Tacoma's Sister Cities program can be found on the city's website. With this latest addition to its international partnerships, Tacoma continues to showcase its commitment to global citizen diplomacy and fostering meaningful connections with cities around the world.

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