Wyoming Business Council Board Recommends Five Grants

CHEYENNE, Wyoming, May 8 -- The Wyoming Business Council issued the following news:

The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors recommended five Business Ready Community (BRC) funding requests during its May 7 meeting via Zoom.

BUSINESS READY COMMUNITY (BRC) GRANT APPLICATIONS

Business Council staff review each application, conduct site visits, or conference calls in the case of planning grants, and make presentations to a board subcommittee before making final recommendations to the full board.

About the Program: The Wyoming Business Council administers the Business Ready Community grant and loan program, which provides financing for publicly owned infrastructure that serves the needs of businesses and promotes economic development within Wyoming communities.

The Business Council board is required by statute to forward BRC grant and loan recommendations to the State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) for final approval. The SLIB is comprised of the five statewide elected officials: the governor, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer and state superintendent of public instruction.

The SLIB will make final decisions on BRC project requests at its 8 a.m. meeting on June 18.

Community Readiness

* Saratoga Carbon County Impact Joint Powers Board requests a $1 million grant for the extension of necessary water and sewer infrastructure to a 5-acre site located on the west end of the Town of Saratoga. The project will expand water and sewer infrastructure to a site targeted for commercial growth and assist in the construction of a new 42,000 square-foot healthcare facility. (Board recommends funding up to $1 million as requested.)

Community Enhancement

* The City of Laramie requests $475,000 for the enhancement of gateways into the community, purchase and installation of overhead banners to advertise local events, and the purchase and installation of wayfinding signage throughout the community. This project will also serve to complement a public/private partnership to encourage reinvestment and redevelopment in key retail corridors. Finally, the project will help set the stage for the Wyoming Department of Transportation's multimillion-dollar reconstruction of Third Street. (Board does not recommend funding.)

* Washakie County requests $500,000 for renovations of the former Ace Hardware building to be used for the Washakie County Library, Worland-Ten Sleep Chamber of Commerce and the Washakie Development Association. Space will be created for business incubation, entrepreneurial use and workforce training. (Board recommends funding as requested.)

Planning

* The City of Evanston and Uinta County are requesting $50,000 ($25,000 each) to conduct a detailed architectural/engineering assessment and redevelopment plan for a portion of the existing historic Wyoming State Hospital campus for various economic, educational, community and other development opportunities. (Board recommends funding as requested.)

* The Town of Moorcroft requests an $18,750 grant to hire a consulting firm to prepare a feasibility study for the improvement and growth of the Moorcroft Town Center. The study will define potential economic growth opportunities, stimulate additional employment, prioritize cost-effective renovation projects and identify other possible building uses with a focus on improving the community of Moorcroft and Crook County. (Board recommends funding in the amount of $43,750 for a comprehensive Economic & Community Development Plan. The Board also recommends waiving the BRC program rule requiring Planning Grants to provide a 25% cash match, and instead allow a 12.5% cash match of $6,250.)

* The Town of Pine Bluffs requests an $18,750 grant to conduct the feasibility of an assisted living facility on three properties identified by the town. The proposed study will conduct comprehensive research and review data to include the community's economic indicators, competitive senior assisted living availability and facility demand generators. The study will also research Pine Bluffs and the surrounding areas to determine the viability of supporting development potential. (Board recommends funding in the amount of $43,750 for a comprehensive Economic & Community Development Plan. The Board also recommends waiving the BRC program rule requiring Planning Grants to provide a 25% cash match, and instead allow a 12.5% cash match of $6,250.)

Board meeting materials are available for review here (http://clt1099707.bmetrack.com/c/l?u=A540FEE&e=105BDE3&c=10C7BB&t=0&l=354DA8E8&email=fQLLJByVwoytz%2BBfJdEjjPNvz6i1qJlX&seq=1).