“The board will get a better sense of how the Business Council is working to increase Wyoming’s prosperity and improving quality of life in our communities,” said Shawn Reese, chief executive officer of the Business Council. “Board members will hear about business trends and advanced industries being targeted.”

The Business Council board on Dec. 9 will review 11 Business Ready Community project requests totaling $8,146,951 from counties, cities and towns across the state.

Also under consideration are four Community Development Block Grant applications totaling $863,626.

Anne Alexander, director of international programs at the University of Wyoming, will open the meeting at the Holiday Inn Dec. 10 with a talk about Wyoming’s economic forecast. The meeting will directly follow the State Loan and Investment Board’s 8 a.m. meeting in the Herschler Building. Later, Business Council staff and board members will discuss the agency’s strategic plan in an open, public meeting.

If unable to attend the meeting in person, the public can watch the live video online.

Audio is available by calling 1-855-459-2716.

Those interested in addressing the board must register by 4 p.m., Dec. 8, by calling 307.777.2803 or emailing the Wyoming Business Council. For more information, call Linda Hollings at 307.777.2803, or visit www.wyomingbusiness.org.

Board meeting materials are available for review.

BUSINESS READY COMMUNITY (BRC) GRANT APPLICATIONS

The board will review 11 applications totaling $8,146,951.

The 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.

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.

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

The board’s recommendations will be presented to the SLIB at 8 a.m. during its Jan. 21 meeting held in Room 1699 of the Herschler Building in Cheyenne.

BRC Business Committed 

• Town of Alpine requests a $2,873,798 grant to purchase 3.6 acres and construct a 20,000 square foot building to house a distillery. (Staff recommends funding in full)
• Casper-Natrona County Economic Development JPB requests a $1,855,433 grant to build a sewer line along U.S. Highway 20/26 west of Casper. (Staff recommends funding in full)

BRC Community Readiness

• Campbell County requests a $1,465,000 grant and a $260,000 loan to buy land and buildings owned by Overland Investments and pave the parking lot. (Staff recommends partial funding)

BRC Community Enhancement

• Bear River requests a $380,000 grant to demolish an existing building and build a new community facility on the site. (Staff doesn’t recommend funding)
• Chugwater requests a $100,645 grant to demolish restrooms in a town park and replace them with ADA-compliant restrooms, a utility room and a concession area. (Staff doesn’t recommend funding)
• Cody requests a $450,644 grant to replace non-ADA compliant park equipment (Staff doesn’t recommend funding)
• LaBarge requests a $248,816 grant to purchase a building to house a new senior/community gathering center and a food bank. (Staff doesn’t recommend funding)
• Newcastle requests a $427,615 grant to build recreation sites. (Staff doesn’t recommend funding)

BRC Planning

• Carbon County requests a $25,000 grant to evaluate the need for senior and at-risk housing alternatives in the Little Snake River communities. (Staff doesn’t recommend funding)
• Glenrock requests a $37,500 grant to develop a Comprehensive Economic Development Plan. (Staff doesn’t recommend funding)
• Platte County requests a $22,500 grant to hire an engineering firm to develop the long-range engineering and design needs for upgrades to South Guernsey Road and Tank Farm Road. (Staff doesn’t recommend funding)

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) APPLICATIONS

The board will review four applications totaling $863,626. Before making the final recommendation to the Business Council board, staff reviews each application, conducts a site visit (except CDBG planning grants) and presents to a board subcommittee. The Business Council board determines final awards for CDBG projects.

About the Program: The Business Council administers the Community Development Block Grant program, which is a federally-funded, pass-through grant program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

CDBG Public Infrastructure

• Fort Laramie requests a $418,750 Public Infrastructure grant to upgrade its electrical distribution system. (Staff recommends funding in full)
• Meeteetse requests a $31,515 Public Infrastructure grant to widen the Warren Street walkway and create a bicycle lane. (Staff recommends funding in full)
• Torrington requests a $398,361 Public Infrastructure grant to make sanitary sewer and water improvements. (Staff recommends funding in full)

CDBG Planning

• Kemmerer requests a $15,000 Planning grant for a senior citizen association feasibility study. (Staff recommends funding in full)