FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 22, 2005
For more information contact:

Tom Lacock, Wyoming Business Council
Office:307.777.2834

Wyoming Business Council Board approves Community Development Block Grants

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors met today at the Niobrara County School District Office Building in Lusk.

The meeting was highlighted by board approval for several Community Development Block Grants. In all, 12 applications for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG’s) were approved by the board totaling $295,243.00.

Community Development Block Grant applications which were approved were:

• The town of Albin was approved for a $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 was approved for 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 additional promotion will generate increased business sufficient to support four new positions.
• Big Horn County was approved for a $22,500 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 was approved for a $14,063 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 was approved for 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 was approved for 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 was approved for 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 was approved for 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 will become 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 was approved for 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 was approved for 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 were approved for 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.
• The city of Sheridan was approved for 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.

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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