News

Wyoming Economic Development Association

Wyoming Is the Right State to Crowdfund & Issue a Private Placement Memorandum

Tuesday, October 05, 2021

Wyoming has been a leader in alternative currency and fundraising, passing legislation that is well ahead of other states. With a legislature that can move quickly, you could say that the state operates a lot like entrepreneurs. They respond to the market in real time, rather than letting ideas languish for years in committee. That’s good news for entrepreneurs looking to raise money for an idea, expansion or development project. Why Wyoming is the Right State to Raise Money through Crowdfunding In the 2021 legislative session, Wyoming passed the Intrastate crowdfunding exemption-amendments. These amendments make the state even more business and entrepreneu...

We’re Back Together October 6 -8 in Riverton

Monday, September 20, 2021

Wyoming Economic Development Association, in collaboration with Chamber and Main Street programs, will be hosting an annual in-person conference on October 6 -8th in Riverton. We are excited for the opportunity to be back together, in person, and to learn from industry best practices designed to elevate our economic development practices. Topics are likely to support WEDA’s Economic Development Building Blocks of new business recruitment, existing business development, entrepreneur development, quality of life, workforce development, infrastructure development, and leadership and public policy. Stay Informed Stay up to date by subscribing to our calendar. You will get information about the annual conference and othe...

Reimagining Resilience: How to adapt and prepare our communities for more efficient recovery.

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Reimagining Resilience: How to adapt and prepare our communities for more efficient recovery: Join Ayres Associates for a free webinar series focusing on community resilience through the lens of leadership, economy, quality of life, environment, and physical infrastructure. Our next event, Economic Resilience, will be held August 31, 2021. More details are available at: http://bit.ly/AyresRIR

Housing Best Practices for Wyoming Communities

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Housing continues to be a challenge in many Wyoming communities. Attracting workforce housing development requires intention and a bit of creativity. We have looked across the country to find communities that are using unique strategies to develop workforce housing and are sharing these best practices with our members. We encourage members to consider these options and to get creative as they seek to bring more housing development to their communities. School Redevelopment, Roanoke County, Virginia Roanoke County, Virginia had several school properties that were no longer in use. Roanoke County Economic Development helped to redevelop these older school properties by turning the...

Reimagining Resilience: How to adapt and prepare our communities for more efficient recovery.

Monday, May 17, 2021

Join Ayres Associates’ Planning & Development experts for a free webinar series focusing on community resilience through the lens of leadership, economy, quality of life, environment, and physical infrastructure. Each 1-hour session, presented via GoToWebinar, will equip you with creative and actionable ideas to help your community: - Adapt to shifting conditions. - Prepare for projected hazards and recover rapidly. - Preserve your local character and encourage growth Mark your calendars for the first event, to be held June 29, 2021. More details are available at: http://bit.ly/AyresRIR

Could Wyoming Benefit from the Onshoring Trend?

Wednesday, September 09, 2020

The Site Selectors Guild conducted a survey of members where they found a clear uptick in onshoring demand among manufacturing companies. Though COVID-19 has brought much bad news, this could be the silver lining. “While none of us have a crystal ball, our 50 members represent the nexus between communities and corporations,” said Rick Weddle, president and CEO of the Site Selectors Guild. “This survey gives us a sense for what site selectors are seeing from their corporate clients, and a glimpse into what we might expect coming out of this crisis.” Their main findings were that supply chains will b...

WEDA Members: Follow these Steps to Prepare for Site Selector Requests

Wednesday, September 09, 2020

WEDA members should prepare for the opportunity to attract new manufacturing companies to Wyoming as a result of the recent onshoring trend. Site selectors have been issuing requests for information as companies throughout the United States and the world look to protect their supply chain from future disruptions caused by pandemics like COVID-19 and the growing number of natural disasters. Members who prepare will have the opportunity to compete, and hopefully win new business for their communities. What the Site Selectors Guild had to say about onshoring in 2020 and 2021 - “Guild members predict COVID-19 will accelerate the regionalization of suppl...

Wyoming Communities Should Create a Strategy to Attract Remote Workers

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Could remote workers help Wyoming to recover faster? It’s certainly possible. Remote workers would bring with them the spending power associated with good paying jobs, since most remote positions are mid to senior level. They would purchase homes, pay property taxes, shop at local establishments and eat at local restaurants. Attracting them to Wyoming could have a significant impact on our economy as we work to recover from COVID-19. Why now? Workforce attraction efforts are not new to Wyoming. So what makes today different from before? In short - COVID-19. Throughout the country major population centers, both cities and suburbs, have spent th...

Encourage Participation in the 2020 U.S. Census

Monday, May 11, 2020

Wyoming economic developers and leaders must encourage everyone in their community to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census! We need your help to make sure that every person in our state is accounted for since the data obtained during the Census will impact the amount of federal funding each city, county, and our state receives over the next decade. The Economic Impact is Significant and Lasts for a Decade The U.S. Census impacts $675 billion of federal funding on an annual basis. Since it is only conducted in the United States every 10 years, participation in 2020 has a lasting impact. Unfortunately...

Recognizing Leaders During National Economic Development Week

Friday, May 01, 2020

Now, more than ever, we are in need of leaders to guide our communities through COVID-19 challenges and to create a plan for how to come out of this national crisis. Wyoming’s economic developers are those leaders. WEDA acknowledges your efforts and the dedication you have to improving and growing the communities throughout our state. National Economic Development Week is for you. The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) has set May 4 - 9 as the 2020 National Economic Development Week #EconDevWeek. This is the fifth Annual Economic Development Week campaign and an opportune time to reflect on the importance o...

IEDC is Advocating for Economic Developers in Washington D.C. During the COVID-19 Crisis

Monday, March 23, 2020

IEDC has been engaging Congress on the federal response to COVID-19 for weeks now and they have asked our members to reach out to their elected officials in Washington and at home. Your voices will continue to be essential as Congress and the administration debate what resources to deploy. It is important to note that Congress is moving at breakneck speeds, by any standard, and legislative directions are changing hourly. So far: · Two bills have been passed so far; funding for health and international programming, some small business loans, nutritional assistance, paid leave, and unemployment · ...

Wyoming Treasure Chest & Eatery, LLC Looks To Expand With Help of SBDC

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Sundance, WY. With her extensive experience in the restaurant industry, Thersia (Te) Turbiville leased a building in Sundance, WY and opened a limited service restaurant and a consignment gift shop featuring Wyoming-made products. To get started, Te worked with a local lender who referred her to the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network for assistance in developing a business plan. Te formed an LLC, put a point of sale system in place, and opened for the 2019 summer tourist season. Te is currently utilizing the Wyoming SBDC Network’s business growth services as she considers expanding her company to take advantag...

Wyoming Winds Counseling Moves To Permanent Office

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Torrington, WY. Wyoming Winds Counseling is a mental health clinic located in Torrington. Wendy George provides support and treatment for life changes, goal setting, mental illness, and is certified in equine therapy [one of few in the nation]. Additionally, she works with behaviors that interfere in life and helps clients regulate and move toward a stronger sense of well-being. Wendy started in the Goshen County Economic Development incubator and will be graduating in November to her new permanent office in Torrington. Read more success stories in WEDA’s Legislative Update. http://www.wyomingeda.org/news-and-resources/publications/p/item/10626/weda-2020-legislative-update

Kelley Integrity Safety Solutions Offers Classes Through The Use of Virtual Reality

Monday, March 16, 2020

Torrington, WY. Kelley Integrity Safety Solutions is a leader in online safety training platform located in Torrington. Patrick Kelley owns and operates the business offering a wide range of certification and compliance courses to give workers the knowledge they need to perform safely. Patrick has built the business from the ground up starting with one company to now serving companies in 34 states and 7 countries, in 4 continents. His classes are informative and more importantly interactive through his creative use of Virtual Reality (VR). Kelley Integrity Safety Solutions is operated out of Goshen County Economic Development’s incubator. Read more succes...

Wyoming Connect Railroad Will Expand Through New Industries In The Area

Friday, March 13, 2020

Yoder, WY. Wyoming Connect Railroad operates out of Yoder, WY. The operation is managed by Bob Dietzler and owned by the Dietzler Family. Current operations include shipping and transloading of various products to/from points across North America, such as transloading pipe and materials for major pipeline projects, frac sand and potash transload from rail to truck, and storage and yard space. A new industry is being added that has not taken place in Goshen County before, which is projected to bring many new jobs to the area and over 80,000 truckloads of material in and out of the industrial par...

Representative Shelly Duncan Continues To Promote Goshen County

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Goshen County, WY. Representative Shelly Duncan is an outstanding leader in Goshen County. As co-owner of Double D Real Estate & Associates, member of several boards and an elected representative for Goshen County, she continues to promote Goshen County and her constituents throughout Wyoming and nationwide. Representative Duncan has been in discussions with multiple parties regarding the promotion of blockchain in Wyoming. Rep. Duncan works tirelessly with Goshen County Economic Development to promote Goshen County to blockchain and crypto currency companies throughout the US. Recently, Rep. Duncan was asked to serve on the Board of Directors for WYO Financial, ...

3rd Thursday’s Helps Local Businesses To Sell And Promote Their Products

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Torrington, WY. Goshen County Main Street started 3rd Thursday's, filling Torrington's Main Street with live music, tasty food, cold drinks, crafts, and other various forms of entertainment. Main Street businesses stay open late showcasing their goods. 3rd Thursday’s create an exciting atmosphere, drawing the public and giving those an opportunity to shop, who may not be able to during normal business hours. 2019 marks the second year of 3rd Thursday's on Main Street. This year, we have seen an increase in participation and community involvement. The success of 3rd Thursday’s rest solely on the participants and volunteers. Businesses and entrepreneurs com...

Health Thyme Implements Innovative and One-Of-A-Kind Program Across The Nation

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Torrington, WY. Health Thyme is a restorative health care practice operating in Torrington, WY. Nona Kindsvater treats patients from all over the Platte River Valley in Wyoming and Nebraska as well as in 9 other states. Nona utilizes multiple alternative and integrative care practices and applies them on an individualized basis. She works with over 100 physicians and 2 universities in implementing her innovate and one-of-a-kind programs across the nation. Additionally, she creates supplements to treat a vast array of illnesses and viruses. Health Thyme also offers a health food store to the population of Goshen County. The stor...

Fisher Family Solutions Has Been Awarded A Capital Grant Matching Progress Program Grant

Monday, March 09, 2020

Lingle, WY. Goshen County Economic Development has the pleasure of working with Stephanie Fisher as we were able to help her achieve her dream by awarding her with a Capital Matching Progress Program grant. The Quality of Life she is bringing to our communities and county touches so many of the underprivileged that need it most. Stephanie Fisher is the founder of Fisher Family Solutions a therapeutic program that believes in changing the path for families and children. She believes that if people find something they love, and motivates them, it can change their path, and bring about a better future...

Advanced Carbon Products Innovation Center Will Help Stabilize Local Economy

Friday, March 06, 2020

Gillette, WY. ACPIC is a dedicated location for developing Advanced Carbon Products technology and businesses. The technology proven at the ACPIC will create a diverse economy with new businesses using Powder River Basin Coal as their raw material. These businesses will not experience the boom and bust cycle that our existing minerals industry is prone to, therefore helping stabilize the local economy. It will also place an additional demand for coal as a raw material which will help keep existing coal mines in operation and provide them with a more diverse customer base. Energy Capital Economic Development and the U...

Ohana Chiropractic Worked With The SBDC To Obtain A Loan To Open Practice

Thursday, March 05, 2020

Cheyenne, WY. Ohana is the Hawaiian word for family. At Ohana Chiropractic in Cheyenne, owners Dr. Alicia Ruiz and Dr. Kyle Cardel want their patients to feel like a part of the family. They achieve this through a customized delivery of proven techniques, methods, and philosophies combined with the most effective tools, products, and programs that promote optimum chiropractic health results. Dr. Ruiz and Dr. Cardel met with the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network to explore their dream of opening a chiropractic practice. After a two-year period of business planning and loan preparation, the doctors obtained an SBA guarantee...

SBDC Helps Entrepreneur Andrew Zook to Launch Geared Up

Wednesday, March 04, 2020

Pinedale, WY. Pinedale is situated in the middle of miles and miles of wide open spaces and great bike trails. Entrepreneur Andrew Zook sees the area as the entryway to the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem and saw an opportunity. In 2018, Andrew began working with the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network to open Geared Up — a bike shop offering sales, rentals, and repair services. Wyoming SBDC Network Regional Director Rob Condie worked with Andrew to create an extensive business plan, develop cash flow projections, and even apply for the state’s new Kickstart:Wyoming grant. Geared Up is serving local customers an...

Gillette Acupuncture, LLC Has Rebranded Logo To Fit The Vision of The Business

Tuesday, March 03, 2020

Gillette, WY. Dr. Kate Johnston is one of the true pioneers of acupuncture and oriental medicine in the United States. She began her studies in South Korea in 1981, then attended the first university of oriental medicine in the United States - SAMRA University of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Los Angeles. After graduating with her PhD., she spent six months in China, studying with the masters and treating patients in hospitals and clinics there. She has been in private practice for over 30 years, helping thousands of patients to regain their health by bridging the gap between this ancien...

Medicap Pharmacy Is On The Path To Success After Working With The SBDC

Monday, March 02, 2020

Casper, WY. Eric and Kristin Saul realized their dream to open an independent pharmacy in April of 2019 and are already showing signs of success. Kristin has been a pharmacist for almost 25 years. After careers as an engineer and a software developer, Eric became a pharmacist about four years ago. Having worked for large retail pharmacies, both recognized the need for a more patient-centered approach to their profession. If medication is not on your shopping list, the store is also a Hallmark Gold Crown Franchise, carrying unique greeting cards and gifts. To get started, Eric worked with Cindy Unger, Wyomin...

SBA 8(a) Graduate Builds her American Dream (Literally)

Friday, February 28, 2020

Written By: Jordan Belser, Public Affairs Specialist, Wyoming District Office LOVELL, WY. Lovell is a small town with 2,393 people and zero big-box retailers, shopping malls or five-star restaurants. It’s 92 miles from Billings, 230 miles from Casper and isn’t really “on the way” to anywhere. So how did a small town like Lovell become home to one of Wyoming’s premier construction companies? It all starts with the owners. Stacy Bair was born and raised in Lovell but moved to California after high school for a change of scene. It’s not uncommon for someone from a small town to move to the bi...

Buffalo Business Weathers Storm, Continues to Thrive

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Written By: Jordan Belser, Public Affairs Specialist, Wyoming District Office Buffalo, WY. On the evening of June 3, 2015, a freak storm hit the Buffalo area, dumping inches of rain in a matter of minutes. By the time the sun rose, residents were already scrambling to pump water and remove debris from their homes and businesses. Authorities declared Buffalo a disaster area – numerous roads and structures were affected by the storm, and many residents couldn’t leave their homes. One of the businesses affected was the Blue Gables Motel and Coffee Bar in downtown Buffalo. The owner, Jimmy Henry, lives on-site and wa...

Bomgaars Acts As Anchor For Growth In Washakie County

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Worland, WY. A project that began in the late summer of 2017 came to fruition in early March 2019 as Bomgaars Worland opened their doors just east of Worland in Washakie County. At the first meeting in August of 2017 Bomgaars had high hopes for success in Worland and began looking at potential sites with the assistance of the Washakie Development Association. The Bomgaars team liked what they saw and soon settled on a location and began negotiation with the landowner. Through the process Washakie Development Association served as a single contact for a buffet of simple resources to help streamline th...

Wyoming Women Celebrate 45 Years of Business

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

By: Jordan Belser, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration Casper, WY – Fashion Crossroads, a women’s fashion retail store and recipient of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2019 Spirit of Wyoming Award, has been a mainstay of downtown Casper for as long as many people can remember. On May 4, 2019, the store celebrated its 45th year in business. In an industry where brick-and-mortar businesses are either closing, failing or transitioning to online sales, how does this mother-daughter duo continue to thrive? “Attention to detail, customer service and knowledge of industry trends,” Dawn Stevenson, the store’s founder and president, explained. “It’s tha...

How Wyoming SBDC Helped Lori Swanton to Launch Ability Physical Therapy

Monday, February 24, 2020

Cody, WY. One year after opening its doors, Ability Physical Therapy is already improving the lives of community members and surpassing business expectations. Ability Physical Therapy networks with a variety of health care practitioners to provide holistic, integrated health-care support to its patients. Getting started, Lori Swanton knew a lot about physical therapy, but not much about business. So she turned to the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network to obtain practical start-up advice, help with logo design and training on social media strategies. “It really helped me set up things appropriately, to find the right processes,” she said. “When d...

Sanctuary Pottery Studio Is Working Towards Expansion

Friday, February 21, 2020

Casper, WY. A meeting of 12 potters at a local clay studio resulted in the creation of Sanctuary Pottery Studio in Casper. One day after meeting, the group began looking for a location to host pottery workshops. In just seven months, Sanctuary Pottery Studio has grown from 12 to 23 members. Founding member and owner of Sanctuary Pottery Studio, Dandee Pattee, worked with Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network Business Advisor Cindy Unger. Pattee and Unger went over the numbers and came up with a business plan to lease a space, purchase equipment, and even obtain a loaned kiln. “Without Unger’...

Cowboy Creamery Corporation Expanded Into Four States with Help from SBDC

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Sheridan, WY. Cowboy Creamery Corporation’s story began in 2018 at the base of the Bighorn Mountains in Sheridan, WY with the creation of Western Style® — a unique, handcrafted ice cream created with western-sourced dairy and recipes handed down from early homesteader days. Their mission is to be the best handcrafted ice cream available for retail sale. They distribute ‘Western Style®’ Super Premium ice cream to select cities in Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, and Colorado. A spokesperson from the main office says the business’ rapid growth is directly attributed to the support that was provided — and continues to be provide...

Frog Creek Partners’ Ground-breaking Technology is Being Utilized in Three States

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Casper, WY. Casper entrepreneur Brian Deurloo is the founder of Frog Creek Partners, an environmental technology company. With storm water being the number one source of water pollution, he is on a mission to remedy the problem. In 2016, Brian filed a patent for the Gutter Bin® storm water filtration system, and started the company with Chris Tippie. In the start-up phase of Frog Creek Partners, Brian took advantage of several Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network services to develop a business plan, secure angel capital, conduct market research, and register with government agencies. “I started working with the SBD...

C&C Lock and Key is Growing in Fremont County

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Riverton, WY. Dawn and Raymond Clark saw a need for locksmith services in Fremont County, and made it their mission to fill the void. In April of 2017, Dawn contacted the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network to look into opening C&C Lock and Key. The pair worked with Wyoming SBDC Network Regional Director Sarah Hamlin who assisted them with developing a website, helped them to set up their social media pages, and connected them with other resources within the organization such as government registration assistance, market research, and a financial health checkup. C&C Lock and Key now offers servic...

WyoMusic Worked With SBDC To Build A New Brand

Monday, February 17, 2020

Cheyenne, WY. WyoMusic is a Cheyenne-based business that provides instruments, sheet music, and more for the community. Owners Danica and Andy Mrozinsky say they are more concerned about the impact they make on Cheyenne rather than profits. Before WyoMusic became a reality, the Mrozinskys worked with Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network Regional Director John Privette to look into the purchase of Yocum Music — a long-standing music store in downtown Cheyenne. Together, Privette and the Mrozinskys developed a business plan, prepared financial projections, looked at business valuation, and prepared a loan application package. Wyoming SBDC Network market researchers als...

Wyoming Roofing Puts Team, Community First

Friday, February 14, 2020

Written By: Jordan Belser, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration Sheridan, WY. Like the five generations before him, Ryan Gregory was born and raised in Wyoming. He got his start working on ranches, he’s worked for construction and energy companies, and he now owns and operates one of the most successful roofing companies in the state. If you ask him, though, he’ll tell you there are more important things than business. “Sheridan is one of the most philanthropic communities I’ve ever been a part of,” Gregory said. “To be able to contribute, to give back to those in need, that’s wha...

Public Wifi Goes "Live" In Cheyenne Depot

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Cheyenne, WY. The Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce was proud to go "Live" with public broadband on Wednesday, July 24th at 8 a.m. The announcement took place during Cheyenne Day's Pancake Breakfast. The "Depot Goes Live" Broadband Launch featured Governor Mark Gordon, Senator Tara Nethercott, Representative Dan Zwonitzer, Mayor Marian Orr, City of Cheyenne Councilman Chairman Rocky Case, as well as other City Council Representatives and local dignitaries. To commemorate the public access to broadband a countdown was held to "switch on" the WiFi via a Giant Light Switch. Blue powder then covered the sky from the Cheyenne Depot Museu...

307 Aviation Launched with Help from the Washakie Development Association

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Worland, WY. Tony Herby had the dream of owning his own helicopter business for many years. In 2017, he began working with Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network Regional Director Bruce Morse to decide if buying a business was the right option. The Wyoming SBDC Network helped Herby with developing a business plan, creating financial projections, and exploring financing options. Ultimately, Herby decided to start a new business from the ground up. In 2019, Tony, his wife Emily, and business partner David Stinson worked with Security State Bank to become the first participants in the Grow Worland Business Loan Progra...

BikerBuddy App Benefits Expands with Help from a USDA Rural Business Grant

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Upton, WY. In 2017, the BikerBuddy app was introduced in the US as a tool to help bikers of all kinds find lodging, assistance, and community while they travel. Owners Debbie Douglas, Paul Douglas, Ginger Douglas, and Brannon Frank have since expanded their Upton, WY-based business and now have 910 riders and 260 hosts throughout the US and Canada. The app is available to download for free from the iTunes Store and Google Play. Opportunities for hosts to assist the riders include tent camping, camper use, a bedroom, apartment, or entire home at affordable flat rates. When looking to expand thei...

Monday, February 10, 2020

The Wyoming Economic Development Association has partnered with the Wyoming Hospitality and Tourism Conference to provide education, networking and access to the legislative process. We will have educational topics focused on leadership in community and economic development as well as opportunities to learn more about what is happening in the Wyoming Legislature. Registrants may register to attend the entire Wyoming Governors Hospitality and Tourism Conference, held February 23 - 25, 2020 by clicking here. NOTE: If you have already registered for the Wyoming Governor's Hospitality and Tourism Conference you will only need to register for the Wed portion fo the WEDA Conference. If yo...

Recent IRS Guidelines Remove Hurdles to Investing in Opportunity Zones

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

The IRS published its second round of proposed guidelines for regulating Opportunity Zones (IRS, 2019). In so doing, they removed some of the barriers to investing in Wyoming’s Opportunity Zones. With several rounds of proposed regulations, this additional clarity has been needed by many investors who were sitting on the sidelines. Investors were waiting to see what the IRS would do in relation to specific clauses that could impact the success of their investments. “This set of proposed regulations removes many of the impediments that have kept capital on the sidelines instead of flowing into communities and supporting local growth,” sai...

What Is An Opportunity Zone and What Can They Do for Wyoming?

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Opportunity Zones are a hot topic right now and if you missed our recent webinar, you may be wondering what they are and how they can impact Wyoming. What You Need to Know About Opportunity Zones #1 How they were created Opportunity Zones were created as part of the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (Jobs Act). The purpose was to direct private investment into areas of the country that have not experienced a high level of economic growth and prosperity. By attracting private investment, these areas will have greater opportunities to grow and thrive. In Wyoming, the governor proposed 25 specifi...

2019 Economic Development Week is May 6 -11th: Prepare Now

Friday, April 12, 2019

The 2019 Economic Development Week is May 6 through the 11th. This is a week to celebrate the efforts being made to grow our economy and enhance the quality of life for residents throughout our great state. Economic developers, community leaders, businesses and volunteers all have an important role to play in economic development. Throughout this week, we encourage WEDA members to spend time recognizing successes and celebrating their efforts. Ways to celebrate Economic Development Week in 2019 Here are just a few ideas to try: Share posts on social media Make an announcement in your newsletter Put up flyers in local businesses Share a press release Hos...

Public Policy Impacts Economic Development – Lessons from 2019

Friday, March 29, 2019

Wyoming’s 2019 legislative session is complete. Thank you to everyone who made their voice heard and advocated for key issues impacting economic development in Wyoming. We encourage you to continue to be involved with the WEDA legislative committee, and to watch for updates during the interim session. The Management Council met on Friday to assign interim topics and there are many different issues that we will keep you up to date on over the next year. Public policy and economic development are closely connected. Public policy directly impacts our ability to promote economic development initiatives, and ultimately our state economy. Legislatio...

5 Ways Economic Developers Can Influence Public Policy

Monday, March 25, 2019

WEDA actively engages with the state legislature to promote legislation and budgetary decisions that positively impact economic development throughout Wyoming. We send regular legislative updates and encourage members to stay involved. Many of you have asked for tips on how to influence public policy at the state and local level, as well as how to influence and budgetary decisions during session and throughout the year. Best Practice: Before you advocate for any one issue, take time to build relationships. Doing so before session starts enables a friendly rapport to be established and makes it more likely that a legislator will be responsiv...

2018 Was a Year of Innovation and Growth

Friday, December 21, 2018

Entrepreneurs, business leaders, economic developers, community leaders, legislators and the SBDC staff have been busy in 2018, doing the important work of diversifying and growing Wyoming’s economy. This year, we have seen a lot of activity as Wyoming has continued to shift towards a more high-tech economy. With the passage of bills that make Wyoming blockchain-friendly, there has been much attention placed on our state both nationally and internationally, culminating in the WyoHackathon earlier this year. These are just a few of the activities we explore in WEDA’s 2018 Success Stories. Technology Focus As we move to diversify Wyoming’s economy, technology i...

Join Us on Giving Tuesday and Support Wyoming Charities

Monday, November 26, 2018

November 27th is Giving Tuesday, a day where people donate to the causes they are passionate about. We encourage you to spread the word so that we can all consider those in our community who may need our help and support, along with the charities that are standing in the gap to be there for those in need. November 27th is also an excellent time to recognize the important economic impact Wyoming non-profit agencies are making in our state. The Wyoming Charitable Nonprofit Sector: Employs 14,000 people (2015) There are 3,139 registered charitable nonprofits (2017) Non-profits had $1.09 billion in expenditures in 2013 Non-profits...

Wyoming Celebrates National Women's Small Business Month

Monday, October 15, 2018

Wyoming is home to many small businesses owned and operated by women. According to the Wyoming Business Report, “Wyoming has an estimated 19,100 women-owned businesses, employing 18,100 with revenues of roughly $2.9 billion according to the eighth annual State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, commissioned by American Express”. This comprehensive report analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Business Owners, factoring in relative changes in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These businesses range from small family businesses to larger corporations employing hundreds of people. Since October is National Women’s Small Business Month, this is an excellent time to celebrate th...

Ecotourism Can Drive Economic Growth in Wyoming

Wednesday, July 04, 2018

Wyoming is rich in natural resources, many of which stand tall and proud like the Grand Tetons and Devils Tower. Throughout the state, Wyoming is full of beautiful rivers, lakes, valleys, mountains and outdoor spaces that can truly take your breath away. Living here, it is easy to take the beauty of Wyoming for granted. However, for people living in much of the rest of the country, these wide open spaces are something they only dream of. This has created an incredible opportunity for entrepreneurs to create ecotourism businesses that can attract people from throughout the country, and the world...

Celebrate National Economic Development Week with WEDA

Tuesday, May 08, 2018

National Economic Development Week kicked off on May 7th and WEDA is inviting economic developers, businesses and community members to help us celebrate. There is a lot of momentum in Wyoming and with the ENDOW initiative, that momentum is growing. We want to celebrate the large and small successes happening throughout our state and encourage the sharing of success stories and information about programs and services offered by local, regional and state economic development organizations. Why We Celebrate National Economic Development Week Economic development is the core of well-being and quality of life for communities across the United States. It encompasses policies...

Economic Development Week FAQ

Monday, April 30, 2018

The International Economic Development Council is promoting National Economic Development Week May 7th - 11th. This is an exciting opportunity to share information about what economic development is all about and the successes that we are having in the state of Wyoming. Here are some frequently asked questions about Economic Development Week and our answers to them: When is National Economic Development week? May 7th - 11th, 2018 What is the purpose of National Economic Development week? This is an opportunity to educate the greater community about what economic development is and the impact it has on our region and state. We encourage th...

Top Business Trends for Entrepreneurs in 2018

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

The economy is growing and now is an excellent time to own a business in Wyoming. For any entrepreneur who has the next big-idea or an established business looking to grow, 2018 is the time to make key business decisions and implement strategies for growth. The Wyoming Economic Development Association and economic developers throughout the state, support local area businesses and entrepreneurs in their endeavors by providing mentorship, connections with key financial resources, assistance with workforce development, training, advocacy and relocation support. We come alongside local businesses and make it easier to grow. When thinking about the growth goals yo...

Microsoft’s TechSparks Program is Gaining Ground in Wyoming

Friday, February 23, 2018

Microsoft is investing in Wyoming through the establishment of their TechSparks Program. This creates an incredible opportunity for growth and expansion within the technology and IT sectors. To learn more about the program and why they chose Wyoming, we interviewed Dennis Ellis, Microsoft’s TechSpark Manager for Wyoming. WEDA: Why is Microsoft interested in Wyoming? DE: Microsoft chose Wyoming because of the rural nature of the Laramie County area as well as the location of a datacenter in the area. The hope is that we develop interesting projects that can be scaled up in other areas like Cheyenne and around the country. Othe...

A Firearms Manufacturing is Moving to Wyoming from California

Friday, January 26, 2018

When firearms manufacturer Weatherby, Inc., was looking for a new home, they searched for a state that was business-friendly and had low taxes. Wyoming hit the mark. In addition, Wyoming is an excellent cultural fit for a company who has built a reputation for manufacturing top-of-the-line products. “Our product is the main tool hunters use out in field. They may spend a lifetime trying to draw a tag or save for the hunt of their dreams, and we keep that foremost in our minds when we are building our guns,” Weatherby said. “This is an aspiration product; these are gun...

ENDOW Brings Communities Together

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

There is a lot of exciting activity happening in Wyoming, including the launch of Economically Needed Diversity Options for Wyoming (ENDOW). With a renewed focus on creating an economically diverse state, businesses, community organizations, economic developers, politicians and citizens are binding together to identify ways that we can grow as the state, capitalize on the things that make Wyoming great, and better leverage our assets. This is what the ENDOW initiative is all about - coming together to identify, create, and implement solutions. The ENDOW initiative captures the essence of the Wyoming spirit. This is the attitude of getting things done...

Education Possibilities for Economic Development

Tuesday, October 03, 2017

Kayla McDonald, Business Development Manager for Sweetwater Economic Development Coalition, wanted to increase her knowledge of economic development and community building. With a growing population of entrepreneurs and start-ups in the area, she desired to provide them with the resources and assistance they needed in-house. To do so, she has been taking courses through the Oklahoma Economic Development Institute (OEDI), with the ultimate goal being to receive her economic development certification. The challenge? Where to get the money. OEDI offers in-person training conferences and online courses. Kayla is taking classes online but also attended a training in April. This immersive five-day cours...

The Northern Wyoming Technical Institute is Coming to Buffalo

Friday, August 11, 2017

In Wyoming, we have incredible assets, including people who are driven, work hard and are looking for new opportunities. Those opportunities are being created, while also diversifying our economy, through the creation of the new Northern Wyoming Technical Institute (NWTI). In a joint project between Interapt and community groups led by Dave Simonsen, a WEDA board member, the NWTI will train people to become coders. Training for Tomorrow Coding is the job of today and the career of the future. Our world is moving online and coders are needed to build the website, create the software, and build the technology of th...

WEDA Member Success Story

Monday, July 31, 2017

Goshen County. Big Land. Open Opportunity. In 2015, Goshen County decided to embark on a new target market study to assist in economic development efforts. With the last study conducted over a decade ago, it was time to gain a better understanding of the current position of the county, strengths, weaknesses and how to diversify for a better economic future. Ashley Harpstreith, CEO of Goshen County Economic Development Corp., answered our questions about the process and results of the study. WEDA: How did the process work? AH: Once we decided to complete a new marketing study, we reached out to the Wyoming Business Counci...

WEDA 2017 Request for Qualifications

Monday, July 10, 2017

WEDA is seeking proposals from individuals or organizations for services related to increasing WEDA’s presence in the State, while managing activities and programs of the association. Click here to review the complete request for qualifications.

Attend the WEDA Fall Conference this September

Monday, July 03, 2017

Join us in Laramie from September 20th – 22nd for the WEDA Fall 2017 Conference. WEDA is joining with the Wyoming State Chamber of Commerce and Wyoming Main Streets to host Wyoming Working Together. Collaborating with community stakeholders is critical for the economic development of Wyoming and we are learning about bringing businesses, communities and workforce together to increase Wyoming’s prosperity. This is a unique opportunity for anyone working on, or interested in, the economic development of our great state. Wyoming is made of up of hard working people with a drive to succeed, so by working together, we can achieve even greate...

Gov. Mead Announces 20-Year Economic Strategy

Monday, January 02, 2017

Gov. Mead announces 20-year economic strategy By Tom Dixon, Senior Communications Specialist Gov. Matt Mead likes to joke the two historical certainties in every Wyoming governor’s annual State of the State speech are the phrases “good morning” and “economic diversity.” The methods of breaking Wyoming’s dependence on natural resource extraction have varied in the last half century, he explained, but each plan had a key flaw. “We continue to look in four- or eight-year cycles,” Mead said during a recent meeting of the Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors. “Well, we aren’t going to get there in four years or eight years. We nee...

Southeast Wyoming Economic Development District announces new Executive Director

Thursday, December 22, 2016

The Southeast Wyoming Economic Development District (SWEDD) board of directors is pleased to announce Brenda Birkle has been selected as its new Executive Director. Birkle will begin her new position January 3, 2017 and will serve southeast Wyoming from an office based in Cheyenne. “Brenda’s vast experience with workforce, as well as state and federal grants, will help strengthen our region’s economic development efforts,” said Ashley Harpstreith, SWEDD board member and hiring committee chairman. “We have found an excellent new leader and we’re confident she will be a tremendous benefit to our organization.” Birkle previously served as Director for SAGE Technical Service...

Governor Mead Creates ENDOW Initiative to Expand Wyoming Economy

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Citing the need for a comprehensive approach to diversify the Wyoming economy, Governor Matt Mead announced today that he is creating the ENDOW initiative. The initiative will coordinate and expand ongoing efforts across the state, as well as produce measurable results expanding the Wyoming economy. He made the announcement during the Governor’s Business Forum, hosted by the Wyoming Business Alliance. The ENDOW acronym represents “Economically Needed Diversity Options for Wyoming.” “We need immediate and measurable results now,” Mead told the forum audience. “We need to build on recent success in establishing technology as a fourth leg of Wyoming’s economic strength. We nee...

Atlas Carbon Seeking Expansion Money

Saturday, October 08, 2016

Energy Capital Economic Development assisted Atlas Carbon in seeking a $25 million loan from the Wyoming Business Council and State Treasurers Office Large Loan Fund. Atlas Carbon is seeking the loan to expand its activated carbon plant in Gillette. The company now produces about 16 million tons of activated charcoal per year and operations became 24 hours a day, seven days a week this past summer. The plant expansion would boost production to 108 million tons per year, increase full-time employees from 12 to 32 and provide an economic boost to Campbell County and the state, according to Atlas Carbon’s proposal. The job...

Existing business development critical to economic prosperity

Thursday, October 06, 2016

By SHAWN REESE Wyoming Business Council CEO When we talk about increasing Wyoming’s prosperity, we are talking about prosperity for industries, communities, people and businesses. One approach to increased business prosperity is through business retention and expansion programs. Wyoming features more than 60,000 small businesses, defined as employing 500 or less people, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Wyoming’s small businesses employ approximately 130,000 people, which comprises about two-thirds of the state’s private workforce. Small business truly is a big deal in Wyoming. Considering that only about 17,000 of Wyoming’s more than 60,000 small businesses employ people beyond the business owners, there is ...

NEW Growth Alliance (North East Wyoming Growth Alliance) Created

Thursday, October 06, 2016

In August, a memorandum of understanding between Gillette, Buffalo and Sheridan was created and passed by all three city councils for the NEW Growth Alliance. The NEW Growth Alliance combines the efforts of the three communities to market northeast Wyoming as a prime location to expand or start a business. The mayors, economic developers and others have been working on this effort since the fall of 2013. In 2015 the group received a $100,000.00 planning grant from the Wyoming Business Council to develop a marketing and action plan. They are excited to see their efforts move forward with the officia...

Goshen County Economic Development Efforts Merge

Friday, September 16, 2016

Goshen County Economic Development Corporation (GCEDC) and Goshen County Chamber of Commerce are in the beginning stages of combining forces. This proposal will provide an opportunity to provide enhanced member benefits and streamline costs for the community. Current membership benefits from each organization will remain intact pertaining to supporting business communities throughout Goshen County. GCEDC will continue to focus upon facilitating business development and positioning communities for economic growth while the Chamber function will continue to focus upon promoting business vitality and tourism efforts. The merging of these two entities will create and make existing business promotion, business retention, and attracting ne...

Milestone Achieved for Clean Power

Friday, September 02, 2016

Western Resource Advocates entered into a new agreement with Xcel Energy, the solar industry, consumer advocates, and state and local agencies that could pave the way for a carbon-free future in Colorado. If adopted, the agreement could set a precedent for other states to shift to more clean power. If approved by the Public Utility Commission, the settlement would unlock new opportunities for low-income consumers to access solar power and create a new, voluntary product that would give consumers the choice of using 100% renewable sources for their electricity. In addition to many other advancements, the agreement improves net metering policy (th...

Wyoming Unemployment Rate Unchanged in July

Friday, September 02, 2016

The Research & Planning News Release featuring employment data for June 2016 is now available on the Internet via http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/news.htm The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged from June to July at 5.7%. Wyoming’s unemployment rate was significantly higher than its July 2015 level of 4.3% and significantly higher than the current U.S. unemployment rate of 4.9%. Seasonally adjusting state unemployment rates allows for comparability across all states and with the U.S. On the other hand, Wyoming experienced its normal over the month unemployment rate decrease...

Cyber Symposium and Energy Summit Will Look at Big Issues Facing State’s Businesses

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Tickets, space are going fast as WBR is set to host conferences in Cheyenne next week. It’s still not too late to land two of the hottest tickets around, as the Wyoming Business Report prepares to host back-to-back conferences at Little America on a pair of hot topics affecting just about everyone in the state’s business sector, as well as its governmental and educational communities. Cybersecurity Symposium The first annual Cybersecurity Symposium gets the ball rolling on May 18. Keynote speaker Thomas Glanville, founder and CEO of IDentity Theft Loss Prevention, will discuss the value of the data that is often “nonchalantly stored&rdquo...

New Wyoming Manufacturing Guide Is On the Way

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

For anyone who has ever wondered who makes what in Wyoming, and for those manufacturers who want to get the word out, help is on the way in the form of the 2017 edition of the only comprehensive guide to state’s manufacturing: the Wyoming Business Report’s “Manufacturers Directory.” Surveys for the new guide have been sent out to companies across the state. Manufacturers — and the firms that support and supply them — are being asked to complete and return the surveys as soon as possible so they won’t be at risk of being left out in the “uniformed” cold. Highlighting th...

Economic Development Takes Center Stage

Sunday, May 01, 2016

This summer, Sheridan hosted the Wyoming Theater Festival. Talent from across the country came to develop plays and perform them in front of the community and out of town guests. It featured four new works by award-winning playwrights carried out by stage actors and directors from New York and Los Angeles working alongside current and former Sheridan College and area high school students. Participants had two weeks to prepare and two weeks’ worth of performances. Sheridan’s ultimate goal is to become the premier city for new play development, much as Sundance Film Festival serves as an incubator for new film projects...

Manufacturing Continues Growth

Sunday, May 01, 2016

If you build it, they will come. This hopeful phrase has been part of the driving force behind manufacturing, technology and business parks around the state. These properties, often built on spec with local and state development dollars, have paid off when it comes to attracting major players in weapons manufacturing. In 2013, Colorado proposed sweeping changes to gun control laws. MAGPUL INDUSTRIES officials decided it was time to move. The company left its Erie, Colorado, operations and moved to Cheyenne. It relocated its administrative offices to Austin. The manufacturing facility, located in the Cheyenne Business Park, was able to mov...

Something's Brewing in Wyoming

Sunday, May 01, 2016

Across the United States, people are raising their glasses and building an industry based on quality craft beverages. Wyoming is no exception. The number of breweries grows each year. Wyoming’s distilleries are also growing. And, where there is demand, supply will follow. The economic development value is twofold. Beer and alcohol tourism is a growing part of the travel market and Wyoming offers over two dozen destinations. The actual process of brewing craft beverages and distributing it on a larger scale provides quality jobs, often in smaller communities looking for growth. In just a few short years, Sheridan’s BLACK TOOTH BREWIN...

Wyoming State Energy Program transfers to Wyoming Energy Authority

Monday, July 06, 2020

Cheyenne, Wyoming – In an effort to streamline resources and enhance efficiencies, the State Energy Program has transferred from the Wyoming Business Council to the newly launched Wyoming Energy Authority.

FREE Communication Tools for Communities & Businesses Reopening from COVID-19

Friday, June 05, 2020

Economic developers, chamber executives, leaders and businesses are invited to use the Beyond the Curve: A Toolkit for Reopening Your Community. This FREE resource is designed to provide local leaders and business owners with the strategy and communication tools necessary to reopen in a way that enhances economic recovery efforts. COVID-19 has temporarily halted daily life, impacting how we do business, gather as friends, family and communities. The restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the virus have been necessary and effective, but they have also hurt local economies and the small businesses that make each community a specia...

How to Promote Shopping Local & Small Business Saturday (It’s not too late!)

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

For ten years, Small Business Saturday has drawn people away from the shopping malls and big box retailers to the doorsteps of small, mom and pop businesses – the types of businesses who line Main Street and make an indelible impression upon our lives. Wyoming is full of charming downtowns lined with restaurants and shops carrying unique treasures that you can’t find in a chain store. Our downtowns are enjoyable places to visit because of the small business owners who have invested in creating something special. Small Business Saturday is our opportunity to support them. Community Leaders Can Promote Small Busines...

How to Market Your Opportunity Zone

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Opportunity Zone legislation creates a unique opportunity to attract outside investment into Wyoming. Communities who successfully leverage investor excitement will be poised to experience economic gains as a result of new development and job creation. The question then becomes how to attract these investors. Knowing how to successfully market an Opportunity Zone is critical for economic developers and community leaders. Investors must be exposed to a community’s Opportunity Zone and then shown why they should invest in it. This is typically done through a detailed prospectus that highlights the benefits of a particular Zone, while providing the data to back u...

GRO-Biz Conference & Idea Expo

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

CASPER- Wyoming’s premier event for small business owners and entrepreneurs will feature some big name speakers, unique networking opportunities and assistance with several valuable resources. Registration is now open for the 2019 GRO-Biz Conference & Idea Expo which will take place Feb. 20-21 in Casper, WY. The two-track event focuses on providing training and resources on all aspects of operating a company and matching Wyoming businesses with government agencies. This year’s theme — Expanding Your Market — will feature speakers such as University of Wyoming President Emeritus and Professor Dr. Richard, nationally recognized marketing expert Melissa Forziat and many others...

Broadband is Vital to Growth

Wednesday, January 04, 2017

Economic development agencies have spent recent decades developing infrastructure needed to attract companies to their area. Site selectors routinely eliminate an area due to inadequate electric, gas, water, and transportation infrastructure. And now high speed internet access is becoming one of the most important boxes those selectors want to check off. Quickly advancing technology has made the availability and quality of broadband a top consideration. “Various econometric analyses have demonstrated a positive correlation between broadband and economic growth,” said Matt McQuade, director of business development for Columbus2020 in a 2011 article for Site Selector Magazine. “Its importance in the site selectio...

Growing the Economy

Wednesday, January 04, 2017

The Cowboy State may be known for its agricultural heritage, but today’s farms and ranches are constantly innovating. Food production looks markedly different than it did just a few decades ago. Vertical Harvest, in Jackson, celebrated its first year of production at the end of 2016. The vertical greenhouse is a 13,500 square feet and three-story facility located next to a parking garage. The setup, with growing carousels and an efficient design, allows one tenth of an acre to grow produce equivalent to five acres of traditional agriculture. Although the greenhouse sells locally grown, fresh vegetables year round to Jackson area restaurants, grocer...

Marines Adopt Magpul GEN M3 Window PMAG

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Magpul Industries announced today that after years of US Government testing of various commercial magazines and multiple versions of the USGI aluminum magazines, the United States Marine Corps has selected the Magpul GEN M3 Window PMAGs as the only magazines that will be authorized for combat use. Via official message traffic, DTG191737Z Dec 16, SUBJ/M4/M16 SERIES/M27MAGAZINE GUIDANCE UPDATE, the USMC announced that the authorized magazines for combat use will be NSN 1005-01-615-5169 (GEN M3 Window, Black) and NSN 1005-01-659-7086 (Gen M3 Window, Medium Coyote Tan). All units within the USMC are authorized to requisition these magazines with unit funds. The curren...

How *Not* To Do Economic Development

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Posted by Alan Mallach Camden is one of the most distressed cities in the United States, and if any city needs state help to build its economy, it’s Camden. While the state of New Jersey has responded, the way it has done so adds up to one of the most egregious examples of misuse of economic development incentives in recent memory. At the same time, it offers some useful lessons for thinking about urban economic development, especially about a concept that people working in this field don’t think about enough—opportunity costs. Keep reading...

How to have that difficult talk - about incentives

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Posted by Ellen Harpel One of the biggest challenges for economic developers is figuring out how to talk about incentives to people outside the economic development community. Forthcoming tax abatement disclosures as required by GASB 77 are an opportunity to engage in a better conversation on this difficult topic. Incentive queries often start with a negative or accusatory tone, making economic developers understandably reluctant to initiate a dialogue. However, economic developers are the best resource for quality information on incentives because they have the experience with the projects and the expertise to make sense of complex program information. These facts, combined wit...

DWS Continues Focus on Reorganization, Program Improvement in Standards and Compliance

Thursday, October 27, 2016

The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS) Standards and Compliance Section is building on its program improvement focus following the successful development of the Workers’ Compensation Safety and Risk Unit (WCSRU). The Standards and Compliance Section, a branch of programs within DWS, is currently in the midst of a program improvement effort involving the OSHA Division. The overhaul will primarily impact processes within DWS OSHA Compliance. With the aim of greater effectiveness and efficiency, the Division has gone from a paper-based filing structure to an electronic system, allowing for more efficient follow up. Because DWS OSHA’s penalty collection authority is limited...

Breakthrough 307 Formed to Encourage Entrepreneurs

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Two successful Wyoming entrepreneurs have formed an organization to assist potential new businesses start and thrive. Charles Walsh and Jared Stack created Breakthrough 307 this summer. Charles Walsh owns retail stores in downtown Casper. Jared Stack formed Firehole Technologies, a software company, in Laramie was able to sell it to a large firm. The two men hope to combine their knowledge, economic development resources, and support of angel investors to assist new businesses. Walsh formed a similar organization in Ohio with more than 400 "angel investors.” For more information, visit http://breakthrough307.com/

David Street Plaza Project Moves Forward

Thursday, October 13, 2016

The David Street Plaza project has awarded the contract for phase one as well as a a half-million dollar grant for phase two in October. Phase two, which includes several amenities such as a splash pad, will be funded with donations from Hilltop National Bank, the True family and the True Foundation. Caspar Building Systems has been awarded a contract worth nearly $1.8 million for the first phase. DDA Executive Director Kevin Hawley is quoted in the Wyoming Business Report: “our goal is to have at least phase one completed in time for the total eclipse in August 2017. It will include a band shel...

Disaster Assistance Available for Agriculture Producers in Several Wyoming Counties

Thursday, October 13, 2016

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Park County has been designated a primary natural disaster area due to drought. Governor Matt Mead received a letter from USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack notifying him of USDA’s decision. This announcement follows earlier primary disaster designations for Big Horn, Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Niobrara, Sheridan, Washakie and Weston counties. Converse, Fremont, Goshen, Hot Springs, Natrona, Platte and Teton have been designated as contiguous counties. “I am pleased to see that help will be available for the affected counties,” Governor Mead said. “This could be a great benefit for producers in those areas.” Qualified producers i...

Founder of Latina Youth Conference earns 2016 Woman of Distinction Award

Thursday, October 13, 2016

The Wyoming Council for Women’s Issues will honor 2016 Woman of Distinction award winner Ann Redman during a luncheon held at 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 22 at the Cheyenne Radisson. This is a once-in-a-lifetime award, presented to someone who has made a difference in the lives of women, girls and families in one or more of the Council for Women’s Issues areas of focus: home and community, educational opportunities, employment practices or legal rights and responsibilities. Redman’s career is flush with political accomplishments achieved under four state administrations, however her Hispanic heritage is her passion. Her contributions to Wyoming Latinas in ever...

Governor Mead Highlights Wyoming Classroom Connectivity Initiative at Broadband Summit

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Governor Matt Mead highlighted the Wyoming Classroom Connectivity Initiative, a coordinated effort to help improve school Wi-Fi access in the state at the state Broadband Summit yesterday. The Initiative is a joint effort between the Office of the Governor, the Wyoming Department of Education, the Department of Enterprise Technology Services, and EducationSuperHighway—a national non-profit focused on upgrading Internet access in K-12 schools across the country. According to EducationSuperHighway's “2015 State of the States” report, Wyoming currently ranks first in the nation in classroom broadband connectivity with 100% of school districts meeting the Federal Communications Commission’s 100 kbps per student bandwidth goa...

SBA celebrates National Veterans Small Business Week

Thursday, October 13, 2016

by Betsy Markey, SBA Region VIII Administrator As Americans prepare to celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW), Oct. 31- Nov. 4, I thought it was important to give an overview of the many programs and services offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to veterans and their spouses. This year’s NVSBW theme is “Veteran Entrepreneurs: Success across generations,” and will highlight the stories of veteran business owners from every era. Veteran entrepreneurs are a driving force in our economy. Each year, the SBA assists thousands of veterans, reservists, members of the National Guard, and service-disabled veterans to start and gro...

Torrington Eastside Industrial Park Now a Certified Site

Thursday, October 13, 2016

The Torrington East Side Industrial Park recently underwent a two-year examination of every conceivable environmental, infrastructure and zoning consideration. The result is Wyoming’s second business park to complete the state’s site evaluation and certification program known as Wyoming Certified Sites. http://www.wyomingbusiness.org/program/site-evaluation-and-certification-/7419

Casper Receives Grant for Sewer Infrastructure Project

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Casper's Economic Development Joint Powers Board (EDJPB) was awarded a Wyoming Business Council business committed grant, in conjunction with Nalco FabTech, to put in 3.6 miles of sewer along Hwy 20/26 west of the airport. Nalco FabTech provides custom equipment for the oilfields. The sewer line will allow the company to expand and employ more people in the area. The project will run from 33-Mile Road, near FabTech, to the airport. The Casper/Natrona County International Airport is just one property that could benefit from the sewer line. In addition to existing properties that will benefit from the option of tying in to the sewer line, the infrastructur...

Eastern Wyoming College Receives $1.5 Million Grant for Agriculture Technology Education Center

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded Eastern Wyoming College a $1.5 million dollar grant to aid in the construction of an Agriculture Technology Education Center (ATEC). ATEC will be a 27,000 sq. ft. facility, possessing industry leading labs & equipment, and will link Ag education to employment. The grant applications success is thanks to a strong coalition of business, education, and economic partners who worked with Goshen County Economic Development Corporation and EWC’s Office of Development to bring the grant to fruition.

Economic Development Quarter Cent Sales Tax – Progress Program

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Goshen County Economic Development Corporation pushes funds back into Goshen County to enhance economic development projects, thanks to economic development quarter cent sales tax. Started in 2010, the Progress Program was created as a way to utilize economic development sales tax funds to benefit local communities and existing businesses. The overall goal of the Progress Program is to help businesses succeed by making their properties more attractive to their customers, and to make communities more attractive to potential new businesses, employees, residents and visitors. Progress Programs include Capital Matching, Community Enhancement, and Infrastructure Investment Funds. Since it’s inception, approximately $600,00...

Goshen County Receives BRE Grant

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Goshen County Economic Development Corporation was able to secure a USDA RBDG (Rural Business Development Grant) to provide training, technical assistance, and professional services for private business. The program is helping to retain, expand and develop small and emerging businesses in Goshen County. Since the program initiation in June of 2016 GCEDC is working with 30+ businesses by providing technical assistance and securing resources to help them evolve and expand their businesses. This grant has been instrumental in building a sustainable and successful BR & E program.

JOCO First Rolls Out New Campaign

Monday, October 10, 2016

JOCO First has rolled out a workforce/people attraction campaign in partnership with Flood Marketing from Sheridan. The effort is based at www.herdandscenewy.com. The campaign includes quality of life, entrepreneurial, and related community interest stories in Johnson County. The effort pushed information out to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. In addition to written content, videos are being produced to compliment the effort.

Grants Available from Laura Jane Musser Fund

Thursday, September 29, 2016

The Laura Jane Musser Fund will be accepting proposals for their Rural Initiative grant round. Program planning grants up to $5,000 and Program implementation grants up to $25,000 will be considered. Organizations must be from communities with populations under 10,000. Organizations from CO, HI, WY, MI, and MN may apply. Applications will be accepted online through the Fund’s website from October 2 – November 2, 2016. For additional information, please see www.musserfund.org.

What is Strategic Marketing and Why Does it Matter?

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Contributed by Jim Walton, CEO, Brand Acceleration, Inc. As a marketing communications practitioner of more than thirty years, I’ve become frustrated by the number of professional people who don’t know the difference between strategy and tactics, especially as they relate to marketing. I’ve even heard marketing professionals use the terms interchangeable. Argh! They are not the same thing! A few years ago, an economic developer told me that his community’s new website was its entire strategy. Once the site was completed, their hope was that prospective employers would find and fall in love with their community. He had no idea that hop...

Wyoming IT Department Wins National Award

Thursday, September 29, 2016

The Wyoming Department of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) was recognized by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers’ (NASCIO). Wyoming received an award in the Enterprise IT Management Initiatives category because of its work on the Enterprise Extendable Code Cloud Library. NASCIO honors outstanding information technology achievements in the public sector. “This is the first time Wyoming has been recognized by NASCIO. ETS has distinguished itself and helped to make Wyoming a leader in technology,” said Governor Mead. “Director Flint Waters and his team have done an outstanding job and have positioned Wyoming to be competitive on this stage.” The awar...

Wyoming Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.5% in August 2016

Thursday, September 29, 2016

The Research & Planning News Release featuring employment data for August 2016 is now available on the Internet via http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/news.htm The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 5.7% in July to 5.5% in August (not a statistically significant change). Wyoming’s unemployment rate was significantly higher than its August 2015 level of 4.3% and higher than the current U.S. unemployment rate of 4.9%. From July to August, unemployment rates fell in 21 counties and were unchanged in Laramie and Carbon counties. County unemployment rates often fall in Augus...

Digital Economic Development Forum

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Digital technologies are changing the way economic development is done...how are EDOs leveraging technology to engage with prospects, compete online, and ultimately do more with less? Community Systems invites members to attend Digital Economic Development Summit 3.0 event where they will unveil the results from the most comprehensive survey of technology in the industry and provide some actionable tips to to help you create a digital road map for your organization. Sponsored Session: Digital Economic Development Summit 3.0: Creating a Digital Road Map for Your EDO When: Sunday, September 25 at 3:45pm - 5:15pm (EST) Where: Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio or Live via GoToWebinar! Clic...

Wyoming IT Department Nominated for National Awards

Thursday, September 15, 2016

The Wyoming Department of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) is a finalist for two national awards honoring information technology achievements in the public sector. The awards are presented by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). The department handles information technology services to state agencies. ETS has been nominated in two categories: Enterprise IT Management Initiatives for the Wyoming Enterprise Extendable Code Library and Information Communications Technology Innovations for the Wyoming Unified Network. The Wyoming Unified Network is a 100 gigabit statewide network backbone. Improving broadband access and technology is a priority of Governor Mead. “The ETS department has earned thi...

Governor Mead Announces Shooting Sports Initiatives

Friday, September 02, 2016

Governor Matt Mead announced today three initiatives to promote shooting sports across Wyoming: 1) The Open Ranges Initiative will facilitate locally led partnerships to increase access to public shooting ranges. 2) The Wyoming 100 Initiative will recognize the top 100 shooters in Wyoming and 3) The Governor’s Match is a national 2-gun (semi-automatic rifle and pistol) match with some of the best competitors in the country featured. The Governor was joined by representatives of firearms companies from around Wyoming as he signed a proclamation declaring today as “Wyoming’s Day at the Range.” “Wyoming is a firearms state and we are prou...

Job Opportunity: Executive Director, Southeast Wyoming Economic Development District

Friday, September 02, 2016

Click here for details. Send cover letter, resume and references to Ashley Harpstreith, Executive Director of Goshen County Economic Development Corp.at: PO Box 580 Torrington, WY 82240 or ashley@goshenwyo.com

What can happen when growth exits your region

Friday, September 02, 2016

The State of Maine has been experiencing a cataclysmic departure of the pulp and paper industry over the last three decades. There are many things that have happened to which this can be attributed. What we wanted to show this month is what resources are available should you experience a similar set of conditions: ORONO, Maine (From The Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel) -- The formation of a team to help the state's forest industry come up with a long-term economic plan, aided by nearly $8 million in grants, is just the start of continued investment in and development of th...

The Economic Developer Toolbox

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