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June 3, 2010
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Scott Balyo, Marketing and Public Relations
Wyoming Business Council
Office: 307.777.2851
Email: scott.balyo@wybusiness.org
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Video reaction to today’s meeting by Business Council CEO Bob Jensen
Audio reaction to today’s meeting by Business Council CEO Bob Jensen
Audio reaction to today’s meeting by Green House Data President Shawn Mills
Wyoming Business Council board approves nearly $11 million in grants
CHEYENNE – During a meeting today in Riverton, Wyo., the Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors approved nearly $11 million in grant applications including a data center grant, which was the first of its kind in the state.
“The Business Council Board saw a lot of value in the economic development projects presented today,” said Business Council CEO Bob Jensen. “I’m excited about the positive impact these projects will have on their respective communities, including the first data center grant application we’ve ever had.”
The data center grant for $1.5 million was approved for Laramie County to be used by Green House Data Center for utility reimbursement. The business will add 24 jobs and leverage a capital investment between $1-2 million.
A final decision on Business Ready Community (BRC) and Community Facilities Program (CFP) grant funding will be made by the State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB), to which the Business Council board is required by statute to forward these types of grant recommendations. The SLIB is made up of the five statewide elected officials: Gov. Dave Freudenthal, Secretary of State Max Maxfield, State Treasurer Joe Meyer, State Auditor Rita Meyer, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jim McBride. The Business Council board’s recommendations will be presented to the SLIB at its June 17 meeting held at 7:30 a.m. in room B-63 of the Herschler Building in Cheyenne.
Details of the grants reviewed are below:
BUSINESS READY GRANT APPLICATIONS:
The board reviewed five BRC applications totaling $7,322,207. 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.
Before making a final recommendation to the board, Business Council staff reviewed each application, conducted a site visit and presented to a board subcommittee.
- GLENDO - $754,294 to install infrastructure for a business park
- GREEN RIVER - $1.5 million to finish renovations on the Tomahawk building (Recommended with contingencies. A separate $300,000 Community Development Block grant was also approved with contingencies.)
- LARAMIE COUNTY - Data Center Grant of $1.5 million for utility reimbursement for Green House Data Center
- SHERIDAN - $2,589,913 for infrastructure of a high-tech business park
- SHERIDAN COUNTY - $978,000 to purchase office space for a high-tech business incubator
An application by the city of Torrington for $527,506 to purchase and renovate a building for a business incubator was withdrawn by the city for further development.
The board also approved a financial allocation plan for the BRC program that divides $25 million each fiscal year of the biennium among various BRC grant types. The biennium begins July 1, 2010 and ends June 30, 2012. The change would help set funding priorities. Full details are available at www.wyomingbusiness.org.
COMMUNITY FACILITIES GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAM:
The Business Council administers the Community Facilities Grant and Loan Program, which assists communities with grant and loan funding to construct local enhancements to a school building or facility or preserve former school and government facilities that have existing or future community uses.
The grant recommended for approval by SLIB:
- THAYNE - $1,465,000 to renovate the former Holdaway School and create the Thayne Community Center.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) APPLICATIONS:
The board reviewed five CDBG applications totaling $961,834. Before making the final recommendation to the board, staff reviews each application, conducts a site visit (except for CDBG planning grants) and presents to a board subcommittee. The Business Council administers the CDBG program, which is a federally funded pass through grant program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Grants approved include:
- EVANSTON - $177,382 in Downtown Development funds to minimize future deterioration of the former Strand Theater
- GREEN RIVER - $300,000 for plumbing, electrical upgrades and fire suppression in the Tomahawk building (Approved with contingencies. A separate $1.5 million BRC grant was also recommended with contingencies.)
- JACKSON - $5,625 for computer modeling to determine the feasibility of growing local produce in a vertical greenhouse
- MILLS - $178,827 to replace a public water line
- WORLAND - $300,000 to assist in constructing a new building for the Cloud Peak Counseling Center
ARRA FACILITY RETROFIT GRANT APPLICATIONS:
The board reviewed seven applications totaling $979,510 for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-funded (ARRA) funded Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG). The State Energy Office, housed within the Wyoming Business Council, received $9.5 million in EECBG federal stimulus funding for grants and administration of this Facility Retrofit Grant program. The program helps fund energy efficiency upgrades for facilities owned by local governments, tribal entities, nonprofit organizations, and joint powers boards.
Grants approved include:
- CAMBELL COUNTY
Wright - $250,000
- CROOK COUNTY
Pine Haven - $52,780
- FREMONT COUNTY
Dubois - $217,844
- LINCOLN COUNTY
Kemmerer requests $36,604
LaBarge requests $34,990
- WASHAKIE COUNTY
Washakie County requests $250,000
- WESTON COUNTY
Weston County requests $137,292
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.
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