FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 31, 2005
For more information contact:

Tom Lacock, Wyoming Business Council
Office: 307.777.2851

Wyoming Business Council Board to meet June 7 in Cody

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors will meet at the Holiday Inn in Cody starting at 11 am on June 7. The board will consider applications for the Community Development Block Grant Program and Business Ready Community Grant and Loan Program at the meeting.

Community Development Block Grant applications to be considered:

• Green River is asking for a $300,000 Infrastructure grant to develop an area for an Amerihost Inn near I-80. Green River seeks $1.5 million of Business Ready Community funds and $300,000 of Community Development Block Grant funds for infrastructure to facilitate the construction of a hotel/convention center. The project will also create additional commercial lots.
• Jackson is asking for a $300,000 grant for a parking structure. The town of Jackson seeks $1,500,000 of Business Ready Community funds and $300,000 of Community Development Block Grant Infrastructure funds to construct a 276-stall parking facility. The parking facility will support the expansion of the Community Center for the Arts and their $15 million Phase II Concert Hall development. In addition, the facility will allow the town of Jackson to launch an active parking management program to improve access to short-term parking as well as support other downtown redevelopment.
• LaBarge requests a $25,000 planning grant. The town is requesting a planning only grant to revise its zoning ordinances as well as to develop a master plan to guide development, address housing issues and make plans for diversifying the local economy.
• Pine Haven requests a $25,000 planning grant. The community is now embarking on the process of developing a comprehensive community development plan and identifying opportunities for economic development.
• Teton County requests a $19,500 planning grant. An assessment of existing childcare services and the county’s demographics will aid in determining future needs and potential solutions.
• Thayne requests a $25,000 planning grant. The community wishes to complete a comprehensive development plan to guide the growth they are experiencing in addition to planning adequate housing and other community needs.
• Torrington requests a $275,000 grant for downtown development. The city of Torrington will use the grant for building acquisition to open a clothing store in their community based on the community store model that has been successful in Powell and Worland. Four hundred and fifty families have invested in the concept providing $514,000 in working capital.

Business Ready Community applications to be considered:

• Laramie County requests a $1.5 million grant for the North Range Industrial Park. Laramie County proposes to construct water and road infrastructure within the new 500+ acre industrially zoned North Range Business Park and to the site of a future Wal-Mart Distribution Center. Grant funds will not pay for infrastructure within the 146-acre Wal-Mart site.
• Laramie requests a $1.2 million grant for a new wastewater collection system. The city of Laramie seeks grant funding to alleviate sewage flooding risks posed by the development of a proposed convention center, commercial area and two hotels.
• Mountain View requests a $2.9 million grant for Park View Place Development. This phased project will involve the purchase and development of 10+ acres of commercial real estate. In addition, two buildings will be built and leased to Unita County State Bank and Bridger Valley Family Practice, respectively, to facilitate the expansion of both of those businesses.
• Sweetwater County requests $1.3 million for WWCC Educational Development Infrastructure. Sweetwater County and Western Wyoming Community College propose to build a compression technology lab at the Rock Springs WWCC Campus.
• Torrington requests a $1.5 million grant for land purchase and construction of a building for Heartland Biocomposites. The city of Torrington seeks $1,500,000 of Business Ready Community funds for the purchase of approximately 10 acres in the Torrington Industrial Park and construction of a 33,750 square foot building that will be owned by the Goshen County Economic Development Corp. and leased to Heartland BioComposites, LLC, a start-up manufacturer of wheat straw and plastic composite construction materials.
• Jackson requests a $1.5 million grant for a downtown parking structure. The town of Jackson seeks $1,500,000 of Business Ready Community funds and $300,000 of Community Development Block Grant funds to construct a 276-stall parking facility. The parking facility will support the expansion of the Community Center for the Arts and their $15 million Phase II Concert Hall development. In addition, the facility will allow the town of Jackson to launch an active parking management program to improve access to short-term parking as well as support other downtown redevelopment.
• Green River requests a $1.5 million grant for west side development. Green River seeks $1.5 million of Business Ready Community funds and $300,000 of Community Development Block Grant funds for infrastructure to facilitate the construction of a hotel/convention center. The project will also create additional commercial lots.
• Greybull requests a $571,769 grant to purchase and improve a building for the Wyoming Call Center. The town of Greybull seeks $571,769 of Business Ready Community funds for the purchase of and renovations to an existing 4,000 square foot building, which will host a 38-station call center for a start-up research firm, Wyoming Call Center.
• Kemmerer requests a $598,100 grant to build the American Family Entertainment Center. Kemmerer seeks $598,100 of Business Ready Community funds for the construction of a 7,800 square foot building in downtown that will be leased for American Family Entertainment Center for its expansion.
• Gillette requests a $1.5 million grant for the Energy Park Railway Access. Gillette seeks $1,500,000 of Business Ready Community funds to purchase several available lots with rail access in the Energy Park Industrial Area.
• Weston County requests a $473,600 grant for Phase 2 of the Upton Regional Industrial Site. Weston County and the Weston County Development Corp. seek $473,600 of Business Ready Community funds for road construction within The Upton Regional Industrial Site.
• Rawlins requests $423,000 for Industrial Area Street Paving. The city of Rawlins is resubmitting a request for $423,000 of Business Ready Community funds to pave all unpaved streets in the industrial area of the city of Rawlins.
• Riverton requests a $1.5 million grant for infrastructure in the Airport Industrial Park. The city of Riverton seeks $1,500,000 of Business Ready Communnity funds to develop an 80-acre site adjacent to the Riverton Regional Airport.
• Riverton requests a $1.5 million grant for the Great Valley Child Care Center. The grant will be used to purchase property and construct a building to be owned by IDEA Inc., a local community development organization, and leased to a start-up child care facility.
• Platte River Joint Powers Board requests a $1.5 million grant for the Saratoga Community Center. Business Ready Community funds will be used to construct a community/convention and business center at the site of the Saratoga Middle School scheduled for closure.
• Evanston requests $410,850 for the Bear River Rehabilitation Project. Evanston requests funds for improvements to the Bear River, which will result in a whitewater park for kayaking, canoeing, inter-tubing, and enhanced fishing opportunities.
• Laramie requests $435,934 for 3rd Street and Courthouse enhancements. Laramie requests funds for a landscaped plaza, lighting, parking areas and sidewalks for the Albany County Courthouse. The project also involves landscaping along sections of South 3rd Street.

Tentative Meeting Agenda
11:00 AM Public Board Meeting Convenes
Call to Order – Rod Morrison, Co-Chair
Welcome & Introductions
Minutes Approval

11:20 AM Committee Reports

Planning, Budget & Audit Committee – Gus Fleischli, Chair
Financials
Personnel
Contracts
Manufacturing-Works Partnership
Market Research Center
Travel & Tourism (FYI)
Real America Marketing
Pure Brand Communications
Amendment II
Strategic Plan

11:50 AM Grants, Subsidies, Loans & Venture Capital – Jim Davis, Chair

Loan/Portfolio
Loan Policy & Standards Approval
Challenge Loan Program Rules Approval
Audit Report Acceptance
Economic Disaster Loans Approval
5 Goshen Co. Bean Growers
Ernest E. & Carol Hort
C H & M Enterprises, Inc.
Four “F” Farms, Inc.
John Meier & Son, Inc.
Harold & Virginia Reichert
Partnership Challenge Loan Approval
American Natl. Bank & NU Spaces LLC
Brunton Loan Balance Write-Off
Past Due Report
Loan Loss Analysis
Charge-Off Report
Community Development Block Grant Applications
Business Ready Community Grant Applications

1:50 PM Business Retention, Recruitment & Start-up - Gwin Johnston, Chair

Marketing Efforts – Program Guide
2:00 PM Public Comment

2:30 PM Next Meeting/Location & Adjournment

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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