RAWLINS — The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors reviewed two Business Ready Community (BRC) grant requests totaling $148,935 during its board meeting today at the Jeffrey Center in Rawlins.
The Board also received presentations from Sinclair Wyoming Refinery Company and Power Company of Wyoming.
Sinclair Refinery Engineering and Technical Services Manager Ray Hansen, Health and Safety Manager Mykel Butcher and Community Relations Director Ryta Sondergard addressed the company’s recent upgrades to increase production to 85,000 barrels a day while improving its safety record.
Power Company of Wyoming LLC Director of Communications Kara Choquette provided updates on the company’s planned 1,000-turbine Chokecherry and Sierra Madre wind energy project and 700-mile TransWest Express transmission line project.
The city of Rawlins and Carbon County jointly honored Wyoming Business Council South Central Regional Director Pat Robbins near the start of the meeting. Carbon County Commissioner John Espy read a proclamation that declared May 28, 2015 as Pat Robbins Appreciation Day. City and council officials credited Robbins with playing an instrumental role in the city’s economic development and revitalization efforts this past decade. In March, Rawlins became the first community in the northern Rocky Mountain Region to win a Great American Main Street Award.
BUSINESS READY COMMUNITY GRANT APPLICATIONS
The Business Council Board recommended the State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) approve two applications totaling $148,935. Business Council staff review each application, conduct site visits or conference calls in the case of planning grants, and make presentations to a Business Council Board subcommittee before making final recommendations to the full Business Council Board.
The Business Council Board’s recommendations will be presented to the SLIB at its 8 a.m. meeting on June 18, 2015 in room B-63 of the Herschler Building in Cheyenne.
About the Program. 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. The Business Council Board is required by statute to forward BRC grant recommendations to the SLIB for final approval. The SLIB is comprised of the five statewide elected officials: governor, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer and state superintendent of public instruction.
BRC Community Enhancement
Pine Bluffs requests a $123,935 BRC Community Enhancement Grant to create the Veterans Memorial and Community Plaza on a 7,000 square-foot lot between two buildings in its downtown. (Recommended to the SLIB in full).
BRC Planning
Jackson requests a $25,000 BRC Planning Grant to study the feasibility of a bike share program for the community. (Recommended to the SLIB in full).
