FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 20, 2005
For more information contact:

Tom Lacock, Wyoming Business Council
Office:307.777.2834

Wyoming Business Council Board to meet September 22 in Lusk

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors will meet at the Niobrara County School District Office Building in Lusk starting at 10 am on September 22. The office building is located at 619 W. 5th Avenue in Lusk.

The board will consider applications for the Community Development Block Grant Program at the meeting.

In all, 11 applications for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG’s) will be recommended to the board totaling $210,243.00.

Community Development Block Grant applications to be considered:

• The Town of Albin requests $18,180 planning only grant. The grant will aid in developing their community plan, as well as to provide a basic inventory of their buildings and land (current and potential uses).
• The Town of Bear River requests a $7,500 grant for technical assistance. In an effort to promote their company and increase awareness, Wyoming Downs would like to produce an informational video. Wyoming Downs estimates the addition promotion will generate increased businesses sufficient to support four new positions.
• Big Horn County is requests a $14,063 planning only grant. Recently, Anheuser-Busch announced they would not use or operate the malt barley storage facility in Greybull and Worland. The Big Horn and Washakie County Commissioners wish to generate a strategic plan, in conjunction with local farmers and ag-based businesses, to address the impending loss of storage facilities and the possible construction of an alfalfa processing plant. This project could create 10 positions.
• Big Horn County requests a $22,500 planning only grant. The grant, along with funds from Big Horn County, will be used to hire a consultant to conduct an assessment of the airport’s infrastructure. Big Horn County wishes to explore business expansion at the airport and would like to explore what infrastructure would be necessary to support the Museum of Flight and the Aerial Firefighting school, located next to the airport.
• The Town of Byron requests a $25,000 planning only grant. The grant, along with matching funds from the town of Byron, will be used to hire a consultant to assist in developing a community and economic development plan, including assessing building usage, inventory of assets and lands, along with promoting and creating new businesses and general community rejuvenation.
• The City of Douglas requests a $25,000 planning only grant. The grant, along with matching funds from the Converse Area New Development Organization (CANDO) and the city of Douglas will be used to hire a consultant for the purpose of completing a feasibility study to address childcare needs. The study will also offer recommendations and solutions for implementation. An estimated 11 positions may be created.
• The Town of Hulett requests an $18,000 planning only grant. The grant, along with funds from Hulett will be used to establish functionality, size and cost estimates for a proposed community building to be assembled on ground donated to the town by a private citizen.
• Laramie County requests a $7,500 technical assistance grant. The grant, as well as funds from Gater Industries in Cheyenne, will be used to pay for product testing of Heated Solutions Roof De-Ice/Snow Melt Heating System. The testing will determine if the product is in compliance with specific market requirements. If it is in compliance, the product becomes available to a larger segment of the market. It is estimated that the sales of the new product could create the need for 15 additional jobs.
• The Town of Lyman requests a $25,000 planning only grant. This grant, along with matching funds from the town of Lyman, will hire a consultant to assist in developing a comprehensive site plan for a 142-acre plot of land that previously housed the University of Wyoming’s Experimental Farm.
• The city of Rock Springs requests a $25,000 planning only grant. The grant, along with funds from the Sweetwater County Events Complex, will be used to hire a consultant to study the current events the complex hosts and make a recommendation for possible expansion or new facilities on the grounds.
• Sheridan County and the Free Clinic of Sheridan request a $22,500 planning only grant. The grant, along with Sheridan County funds will be used to hire a consultant to identify the “service area” of the clinic and create and operational business plan to guide day-to-day operations. At least two new positions will be created including a clinic director and a clinic administrator.
• The City of Sheridan requests an $85,000 infrastructure grant. WYSTAR is a non-profit organization that provides substance abuse treatment services to Sheridan, Sheridan County and Wyoming. The grant would go towards infrastructure needs for their men’s facility.

The CDBG Program is a federally funded pass through grant program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Wyoming has received an annual allocation from a low of $2.2 million, to a high of $3.7 million. For the 2005 program, the state has received $3,571,002

TENTATIVE AGENDA

8:30 AM Informal Open Dialogue with Community/Regional Leaders

10:00 AM Public Board Meeting Convenes

Call to Order – Rod Morrison, Co-Chair
Welcome & Introductions
Minutes Approval

10:20 AM Committee Reports

Planning, Budget & Audit Committee
Gus Fleischli, Chair
Financials
Exception Budget
Personnel
Contracts
Small Business Development Centers
Development Counselors International
FYI - Travel & Tourism Contracts
Miles Media
Barnhart, Inc.
Sewah Studios
USA 800

11:20 AM Grants, Subsidies, Loans & Venture Capital

Jim Davis, Chair
Loan/Portfolio
Goshen County
Economic Development Corporation
Heartland BioComposites, LLC
Star Valley Wellness, LLC
Goshen County Bean Growers
Loan Loss Reserve Analysis
Charge Off Balances
Past Due Reports
Community Development Block Grant Applications

12:50 PM WY Technology Business Incubator
Dr. Bill Gern & Jon Benson

1:10 PM Water Development – Mike Besson

1:30 PM State Engineer - Pat Tyrnell

1:50 PM WY Technology Association – Mike Kmetz

2:10 PM WY Telecommunications Council – Larry Biggio

2:30 PM Other Business/Next Meeting/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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