Gainesville’s Brazil partnership wins international praise

On Jul 31, 2026

July 31, 2026, 3:31 p.m. ET

The Greater Gainesville International Center won an innovation award for its partnership with São José do Rio Preto, Brazil.
This sister city relationship was established in 2024 through a collaboration between GGIC and a University of Florida professor.
The partnership has involved reciprocal visits between delegations from both Gainesville and São José do Rio Preto.
Both cities have developed a work plan focusing on economic development, cultural exchange, and sports diplomacy.

The Greater Gainesville International Center (GGIC) was honored at the Sister Cities International Annual Conference and 70th Anniversary Celebration in Washington, D.C., as the winner of the Innovation in Business, Trade and Professional Exchange award for cities between 100,000 and 300,000 in population. The award recognizes GGIC’s partnership with São José do Rio Preto, Brazil.

Gainesville’s sister city program with São José do Rio Preto, located in the state of São Paulo, began in 2024 through a collaboration between GGIC President and CEO Lauren Poe and University of Florida professor Welson Tremura, who grew up in São José do Rio Preto.

“This award belongs to everyone who has given their time and expertise to build this partnership,” Poe said. “The relationship between Gainesville and São José do Rio Preto exists because of the dedication of our volunteers, our local government partners, and our friends in Brazil, and this recognition reflects their work as much as GGIC’s.”

The partnership has been built through reciprocal visits between the two cities. In March 2024, a Gainesville delegation traveled to São José do Rio Preto led by City Commissioner Bryan Eastman and including Oṣubi Craig of the University of Florida Center for Arts, Migration and Entrepreneurship, Lisa Dias of the UF International Center, Poe, and Tremura. In October 2025, São José do Rio Preto returned the visit, sending a delegation of eight government, business, and cultural officials to Gainesville led by Mayor Fábio Rogério Cândido.

GGIC has assisted the two mayors in developing a comprehensive set of goals and a detailed work plan to advance the interests of both communities in economic development, cultural and educational exchange, and sports diplomacy. While GGIC is honored to accept this award on behalf of both cities, the organization considers it the beginning, not the culmination, of a long and productive partnership.

Poe also served on a mayors’ panel at the conference, titled “Amplifying Local Impact: How Sister Cities Expand the Homefront.” The session was the best-attended of the conference and generated significant discussion among community leaders about how to engage local government and the broader public in international partnerships.

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