FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 1, 2005
For more information contact:

Shawn Reese, BRC Program Manager
Office: 307.777.2813

Julie Kozlowski, CDBG Economic Development Grant Manager

Wyoming Business Council Board recommends grants

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors recommended $7,244,802 in Business Ready Community (BRC) grants and $133,350 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) during their meeting today at the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne.

The Business Ready Community grant recommendations will be forwarded to the State Loan and Investment Board for decision at their meeting at 8 a.m. on January 19, 2006 in the Herschler Building, Room 1299, in Cheyenne.

Currently, there is no money available in the BRC Program. However, rather than waiting for funding in the next biennium, which starts July 1, 2006, the plan is to request funding in this biennium when the Legislature meets in early 2006.

Thirteen BRC Grants were submitted to the board. The recommendation for Business Ready Community grants are:

• The city of Laramie is recommended for a $1.5 million Business Committed Grant for a building to lease to WellDog, a quickly expanding technology based business founded and located in Laramie. This recommendation is for the second of two requests for the building. The State Loan and Investment Board awarded the city a $1,086,000 Business Committed grant in November for Phase 1.
• The city of Douglas and the Converse Area New Development Organization (CANDO) is recommended for a $575,799 Community Readiness Grant for the second phase of the Douglas Business Park. In June 2004, Douglas and CANDO received $1.5 million for the first phase. The phased business park will allow for the integration of light industry, professional offices, adjacent housing, open space and recreation.
• Lincoln County is recommended for a $360,000 Community Readiness Grant for the purchase of 113 acres of industrially zoned property and installation of a 2.5 mile waterline for the South Lincoln Industrial Park south of Kemmerer. A sewage lagoon will be constructed at the site and an existing rail spur will be extended into the site. The site has direct access to a county road and a rail line.
• The city of Powell is recommended for a $1.5 million Community Readiness Grant for infrastructure for the Homestead Industrial Park. The 30 acre site will be subdivided into 24 1.1 acre lots and served by paved roads, curb and gutter, sidewalk, water lines, fire hydrants and sewer and storm water sewer connections.
• The town of Mountain View is recommended for a $1,082,354 Community Readiness Grant for the second phase of the Parkway Place and Commercial Drive project. In June, the town was awarded a $1,875,000 Business Committed Grant for the purchase of 10+ acres of land for the development of commercial space including the construction of a bank and medical clinic. This second phase will complete the Commercial Drive and the associated waterline, utilities, sidewalk and landscaping.
• The town of Glenrock is recommended for a $1.5 million Community Readiness Grant to renovate the historic two-story Commerce Block in downtown Glenrock. The town will market the 88 year-old building for retail and office-oriented businesses.
• The city of Evanston is recommended for a $410,850 Community Enhancement Grant to improve the Bear River which flows through the city and the nearby Bear River State Park. The project will involve the removal of debris from the river channel, vegetative enhancements and the placement of 5,000 tons of basalt rock in the river. The improvements will result in a whitewater park for kayaking, canoeing, inner-tubing and enhanced fishing opportunities.
• The city of Laramie is recommended for a $244,400 Community Enhancement Grant for 3rd Street, Albany County Courthouse and Downtown Improvements. The city requests funds for a landscaped plaza, lighting, parking areas and sidewalks for the Albany County Courthouse. The city also sought funding for aesthetically related landscaping along 3rd Street and for additional downtown streetscaping. That grant request was denied by the Board.
• The city of Cheyenne is recommended for a $71,399 Community Enhancement Grant for Lions Park beautification. The funds will be used for pathways and signage in Lions Park.

Six applications for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) were submitted to the Wyoming Business Council. 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 Community Development Block Grants awarded at today’s meeting are:

• The city of Cody is granted $18,350 for public infrastructure for Norseman Designs West. Norseman Designs West, a custom furniture business, proposes to build and own a 5,000 square foot building that will include an expanded workshop, office and showroom. The funds will be used to assist with the extension of city-owned electrical and water lines to the company’s new building site.
• Hot Springs County is granted $25,000 for a business park plan. The funds will be used to hire a consultant/engineer to prepare a site survey, mapping, platting and pre-engineering estimates of costs to provide utilities and infrastructure to a 22-acre site. The county and the Thermopolis Chamber of Commerce entered into an option to purchase the property.
• The town of Kaycee is granted $25,000 for a community and economic development plan. The funds will be used to hire a consultant to assist in developing a plan that will address the existing economic situation, identify potential business growth options, identify existing infrastructure deficits and potential funding sources to address those deficits and establish a cohesive and marketable image for Kaycee.
• The city of Rawlins is granted $25,000 for a Citizens Organized to see Violence Ended (COVE)/Co-location study. The funds will be used to hire a consultant to assist in determining the needs of the various human resource service agencies and to develop those partnerships, develop a business plan and secure preliminary building costs.
• The town of Thermopolis is granted $15,000 for a housing study. Thermopolis is beginning to experience some growth, but one obstacle to growth is affordable housing. The funds will be used to hire a consultant to complete a housing needs assessment and plan for action over the next five to ten years in Thermopolis and the surrounding area.
• The town of Wright is granted $25,000 for a planning grant for the Latigo Hills Mall. The mall is for sale and is in need of repair and renovation. The funds will be used to hire an architect and a retail planning consultant to investigate the feasibility of the town purchasing the mall and then redeveloping the mall. Employment profiles for each re-development option will be considered as well.

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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