FOR RELEASE:
October 12, 2005
For more information contact:

Tom Lacock, Wyoming Business Council
Office:307.777.2834

Wyoming Business Council Board will meet to consider grants

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors will meet Oct. 25 at 10:30 a.m. at the Wyoming Business Council office, which is located at 214, W. 15th Street in Cheyenne.

The board meeting will allow the board to consider three Business Ready Community projects, as well as several Community Development Block Grants.

The requests for Business Ready Community Grants are:

• The city of Laramie requests $1,500,000 for phase 1 construction of a building to be leased to WellDog, Inc. by the Laramie Economic Development Corporation.
• The city of Riverton requests $1,500,000 for construction of a building to be owned by IDEA, Inc., and leased to Bailey Enterprises for the start up of the Great Valley Day Care Center.
• The city of Thermopolis requests $414,000 for purchase and upgrades to an existing building to be owned by Thermopolis-Hot Springs County Economic Development Company and leased to CAPTEL, LLC, for a Wyoming branch of the Washington DC based call center.

Business Council recommendations will be forwarded to the State Loan and Investment Board for decision at their meeting November 17, 2005, 8:00 AM, in the Herschler Building, Rm 1299, in Cheyenne.

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

Community Development Block Grant applications which will be considered for approval include:

• The town of Jackson requests $500,000 for the Jackson Hole Community Health Center. The applicant has expressed an urgent and serious need for a new mental health facility in Jackson. The CDBG funds will be used toward the purchase of the lot and existing Mountain House facility at 640 Broadway in order to build the new Community Mental Health Center.
• Laramie County requests $300,000 for water and sewer projects. The proposed project is meant to eliminate or minimize exposure to contaminated water wells and the number of polluting septic systems in targeted unincorporated county pockets in the Cheyenne area. This will be accomplished by providing the target areas with access to municipal water/sewer lines. The county and city have committed $240,000 toward the project.
• Sublette County requests $300,000 for a Sexual Assault Task Force Office and Safehouse. SAFV serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. The county has limited ability to shelter victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Due to the oil and gas development in Sublette County available housing is almost non-existent. CDBG funds will be used to build an office and safe house in Pinedale.
• The Town of Alpine requests $291,000 for a new Child Development Center. The Lincoln-Uinta Child Development Association (LUCDA) operates five child development centers in the two-county area. LUCDA has child development centers in Afton and in Thayne, which are at capacity. The CDBG funds will be used to construct a new building in Alpine.
• The town of Gillette requests $300,000 for a Youth Emergency Services Facility. Youth Emergency Services (YES) provides services to youth and their families including shelter, counseling, prevention, education, intervention and support on a twenty-four hour basis. The programs are for abused and neglected children. Presently YES is located in four separate locations. Due to the high demand for their services YES feels it is time to consolidate all programs in one location.
• The city of Powell requests $115,000 for Big Horn Industries (BHI). BHI provides critical life skills and vocational services for Wyoming adults with disabilities in Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park and Washakie Counties. Programs provide opportunities for disabled people to lead productive lives that are as independent as possible. The CDBG grant will help to install fire suppression equipment, as well as provide larger kitchen and dining areas for staff and clients.
• The city of Thermopolis requests $25,000 for Big Horn Industries. BHI provides services in Thermopolis similar to those provided in Powell. BHE – Thermopolis is applying for funds to install a fire suppression system at the Mondell Group Home. Eight individuals, five of whom rely on staff for their every need, live in the home.
• Albany County requests $295,804 for the Downtown Clinic (DTC). DTC provides care to low-income uninsured persons in Albany County. DTC has been providing client care in the Albany County Public Health (ACPH) building and rented space next door. DTC would like to purchase and remodel the present building in which they are now leasing the front portion.
• Johnson County requests $300,000 for a County Health Building Project. The existing public health facility is located in a house considered inadequate to accommodate current demand for services. The Public Health Office contracts with the hospital to conduct physical and gynecological exams. Public Health would like to purchase and remodel an existing building.
• Crook County requests $300,000 for a Moorcroft Clinic. The clinic has a limited number of exam rooms, physical therapy facilities that are not handicapped accessible, the is inadequate space for private treatment, the X-ray area is also used for storage, and plumbing throughout the building is inadequate. The proposed project is to build a new 3,300 square foot facility. Community funds have been raised for construction and the land has been purchased.
• The city of Riverton requests $276,000 for Fremont Counseling Service Inc (FCS). FCS provides affordable mental health services to the communities of Lander, Riverton, Dubois, Ft. Washakie, Pavillion, Arapaho, Ethete, Shoshone, and St. Stephens. The proposed project is to expand the existing office building to allow for a larger waiting/reception area, an additional group room, two additional public restrooms, and more office space.
• The city of Sheridan requests $129,000 for a senior center kitchen. The Senior Center has requested updated kitchen equipment to assist in providing meals for senior citizens. Funds would also be used for installation, architectural and engineering expenses. The center anticipates an increase in meal distribution once new equipment is installed.
• The city of Sundance requests $148,558 for the Crook County Family Violence and Sexual Assault Services Inc. CCFV/SAS provides a comprehensive range of services to meet the needs of domestic violence and sexual assault victims, along with providing services to elder abuse and child abuse victims. The proposed project is to erect a facility to house CCFV/SAS as the primary tenant along with six other small non-profit programs in Crook County. The present building is not handicap accessible and the confidentiality of the clients is jeopardized.
• Campbell County requests $260,734 for Recluse Community Hall. The proposed project is for the elimination of specific conditions of blight and physical decay involving the Recluse Community Hall. The hall is the only community facility located in the northern Campbell County unincorporated town of Recluse. While structurally sound, there is deterioration in many areas: rotting wood, window frames, missing chinking, leaking roof over kitchen.
• The city of Mills requests $300,000 for renovation of the old fire hall. The old Mills Town Hall was recently vacated by the town fire department. The vacant building consists of 7,500 square feet with a large meeting room, two or three small rooms, restrooms, a large garage, a 2,000 square feet meeting room, and a kitchen. The town proposes to remodel the building for use as a community and senior center. The existing senior center is located in the basement of the new town hall.
• The city of Sheridan requests $120,000 for flood damage repair. The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) has an “Imminent Threat” funding category that can assist communities with the repair of public infrastructure damaged due to a natural disaster. This is done in conjunction with an emergency declaration by the governor. In the past CDBG funds were used to help Kaycee rebuild damaged streets due to a flood.
  In May of this year the city of Sheridan was hit with a rainstorm that caused flooding in the community and damage to portions of the city’s infrastructure. During the week of May 7-13 over 4.4 inches of precipitation was recorded, with a May total of 6.2 inches of precipitation. Normal May precipitation is 2.4 inches.

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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