NEWS RELEASE

FOR RELEASE:
May 9, 2008

For More information contact:
Tom Lacock
Senior Marketing and Public Relation Specialist
Wyoming Business Council
Office: 307.777.2834

Kozlowski returns to the Wyoming Business Council

CHEYENNE - Julie Kozlowski has returned to the Wyoming Business Council as Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Manager for Economic Development Activities.

The CDBG program manager post is nothing new to Kozlowski who worked in the CDBG program from 2004-2006. In August of 2006, Kozlowski moved to Alaska, where she took a position as the State Housing and Community Development Coordinator managing the state’s housing and community development planning process with Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.

At the Business Council, Kozlowski will help oversee the Community Development Block Grant program as well as the Workforce Housing Infrastructure Loan Program.

“The opportunity to work with Wyoming’s new Workforce Housing program and delve back into economic development at such an exciting and busy time was a driver in our decision to move back to our home in Cheyenne,” Kozlowski said.

“We’re excited to have Julie back at the Business Council,” said Investment Ready Communities Director Shawn Reese. “Julie has a great deal of respect and admiration from Wyoming’s community leaders. I’m looking forward to working with Julie to move the Wyoming Business Council’s programs for economic development to the next level.”

The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) is a federally funded pass through grant program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Economic Development activities under the CDBG program help communities with downtown projects, infrastructure projects and planning activities such as feasibility studies or growth management plans. Community Development activities under the CDBG program help communities with public infrastructure, handicapped accessibility and community facilities projects. This year there is $1.06 million in the Economic Development CDBG account and $1.25 million in the CDBG Community Development account.

The Workforce Housing Infrastructure Loan Program was created by the Wyoming Legislature during the 2007 session. The purpose of the program is to promote and continue economic development at the city, town and county level by providing adequate housing necessary to create additional economic health and a stronger state economy in order to promote the economic welfare of the state and its residents.

Prior to her first stint at the Wyoming Business Council, Kozlowski worked in the Office of Federal Land Policy (1995-2003) as well as Governor Mike Sullivan’s office (1991-95) and Sen. Alan Simpson’s office (1989-90).

The mission of the Wyoming Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.wyomingbusiness.org.

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