CASPER, Wyo. – The Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) approved $10,524,105 in Business Ready Community grant requests this morning at its meeting in Cheyenne.

The board approved requests for one Business Ready Community (BRC) Business Committed application, six Community Readiness applications, and five Community Readiness Downtown Development applications.

The Wyoming Business Council administers the BRC program, which provides the financing for publicly owned infrastructure that serves the needs of businesses and promotes economic development within Wyoming communities.

The Business Council Board of Directors is required by statute to forward all BRC recommendations to the SLIB for final approval. During its December 2013 meeting in Cheyenne, Wyo., the Business Council board made funding recommendations to the SLIB.

The SLIB is made up of the five statewide elected officials: Gov. Matt Mead, Secretary of State Max Maxfield, State Treasurer Mark Gordon, State Auditor Cynthia Cloud, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill.

Business Ready Community Business Committed applications

• Powell requested a $946,404 Business Committed grant to construct an 8,000-square-foot steel frame warehousing facility, additional grain storage facilities, and a grain receiving area to enhance the business development of Gluten Free Oats. (SLIB approved in full)

Community Readiness applications

• Amoco Reuse Agreement Joint Powers Board requested a $5 million Community Readiness grant to install infrastructure in Platte River Commons Opportunity Area located on the old Amoco Refinery property in Casper. (SLIB denied request)
• Casper-Natrona County, Wyoming Economic Development Joint Powers Boardrequested a $999,953 Community Readiness grant to construct a 30,000-square-foot speculative building that will be expandable to 60,000 square feet. (SLIB approved in full)
• Jackson Hole Energy Sustainability Project Joint Powers Board requested a $766,665 Community Readiness grant to install a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station at Shervin’s Independent Oil. (SLIB approved in full as grant)
• Laramie County requested a $1 million Community Readiness grant to construct a 4,354-square-foot medical clinic and pharmacy building that will replace the current 2,300-square-foot facility in Pine Bluffs. (SLIB approved in full)
• Lingle requested a $236,832 Community Readiness grant to construct a redundant transformer bank at the town’s substation. (SLIB approved in full)
• Ranchester requested a $977,500 Community Readiness grant to construct a 5,400-square-foot building that will include three retail spaces, a 9,000-square-foot outdoors farmers market space, and a 17,000-square-foot parking lot with 32 spaces on property currently owned by the town. (SLIB approved in full)
• Teton County requested a $889,173 Community Readiness grant to construct 4,165-linear-feet of eight-inch sanitary sewer, 1,550-linear-feet of six-inch sanitary sewer, and a lift station to the area along South Highway 89 outside of the town of Jackson. (SLIB approved in full)

Community Readiness Downtown Development applications

• Casper requested a $1 million Downtown Development grant for the reconstruction of a two-block area along the Yellowstone Highway. (SLIB approved in full)
• Cheyenne requested a $562,248 Downtown Development grant and an $187,500 BRC Downtown Development loan to construct an elevated walkway from the city owned, Jack R. Spiker Parking Facility, across Pioneer Avenue, to the second floor of a proposed hotel.(SLIB approved in full)
• Gillette requested a $1 million Downtown Development grant to complete the Gillette Avenue infrastructure and streetscape. (SLIB approved in full)
• Rawlins requested a $1 million Downtown Development grant to rehabilitate the facades of up to 64 properties in the DDA/Main Street district. (SLIB approved in full)
• Torrington requested a $957,830 Downtown Development grant for a three part project. The project will renovate the façade and remodel the former Our Clothing Store, a 12,000 square foot retail building located on Main Street. (SLIB approved in full)

The mission of the Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. The Business Council, a state government agency, concentrates its efforts on providing assistance for existing Wyoming companies and start-ups, helping communities meet their development and diversification needs, and recruiting new firms and industries targeted to complement the state’s assets. For more information, please visit www.wyomingbusiness.org.