FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 7, 2005
For more information contact:

Tom Lacock, Wyoming Business Council
Phone: 307.777.2851

Wyoming Business Council makes grants and recommendations at Board Meeting

CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors approved several applications for the Community Development Block Grant Program and made recommendations for Business Ready Community Grants during their June 7 meeting in Cody.

Community Development Block Grants
Community Development Block Grant applications which were approved include:

• Green River received a $300,000 Infrastructure grant to develop an area for an Amerihost Inn near I-80. The city of Green River was awarded $300,000 of Community Development Block Grant funds pending final approval for a recommended $1.5 million Business Ready Community Grant. The project will facilitate infrastructure to facilitate the construction of a hotel/convention center. The project will also create additional commercial lots.
• Jackson received a $300,000 grant for a parking structure. The town of Jackson was awarded $300,000 of Community Development Block Grant Infrastructure funds pending final approval for a $1.5 million Business Ready Community grant 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 received a $25,000 planning grant. The town received 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 received 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 received 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 received a $25,000 planning grant. The community has been awarded money to complete a comprehensive development plan to guide the growth they are experiencing in addition to planning adequate housing and other community needs.
• Torrington received 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 Grants
The Board’s recommendations for Business Ready Community applications will be forwarded to the State Loan and Investment Board for decision at their meeting to be held in Room 1299 of the Herschler Building in Cheyenne, at 8 a.m. on June 23.

Business Ready Community applications, recommended for approval, include:

• Laramie County is recommended for 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 is recommended for 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 is recommended for a $1.875 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 Uinta County State Bank and Bridger Valley Family Practice, respectively, to facilitate the expansion of both of those businesses.
• Sweetwater County is recommended for a $1.3 million grant 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 is recommended for a $1.5 million grant for land purchase and construction of a building for Heartland Biocomposites. The city of Torrington seeks $1.5 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.
• Greybull is recommended for 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 is recommended for 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.
• Weston County is recommended for 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.
• The city of Rawlins is recommended for a $234,900 grant for Industrial Area Street Paving. The city will receive $234,900 of Business Ready Community funds to pave all unpaved streets in the industrial area of the city of Rawlins.
• Riverton is recommended for a $621,000 grant for infrastructure in the Airport Industrial Park. The city of Riverton received $621,000 of Business Ready Community funds to develop an 80-acre site adjacent to the Riverton Regional Airport.

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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