*Note: Audio .mp3 quotes for each of the Business Ready Community applications and the CDBG Economic Development applications are available online at http://www.wyomingbusiness.org/txt_news_media.htm.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 22, 2006
For more information contact:

Tom Lacock, Senior Marketing & Public Relations Specialist
Wyoming Business Council
Office: 307.777.2834, Cell: 307.631.0958

Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors to consider grants
(Agenda at end of release)

LARAMIE – The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors will consider Business Ready Community (BRC) Program and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications at 10 a.m. on December 7 at the Wyoming Technology Business Center at 1938 Harney St. in Laramie.

The board will consider BRC and CDBG applications from following cities, towns, counties and joint powers boards: Casper Area Economic Development Joint Powers Board, Greybull, Laramie Regional Airport Joint Powers Board, Hot Springs County, Cody, Pinedale, Bear River Regional Water Joint Powers Board, Rock Springs (2), Sheridan County, Thayne, Pine Bluffs, Opal, Kemmerer, Rawlins, Riverton, Uinta County, Evanston, Albany County, Afton, Campbell County, Jackson, Worland, Sheridan (2), Powell, Lyman, Carbon County, Converse County, Star Valley Ranch and Torrington.

Business Ready Community Grant Applications
The Board’s recommendations for Business Ready Community Grants will be forwarded to the State Loan and Investment Board for decision at their meeting on February 8, 2007 in Cheyenne.

The board will consider 15 Business Ready Community applications totaling $27.9 million. For more information on any of these projects, visit http://www.wyomingbusiness.org/pdf/irc/brc_recs_12-7-06.pdf. The requests for Business Ready Community grants are:

• Casper Area Economic Development Joint Powers Board (JPB) requests a $3 million Business Committed grant for a building to be owned by the JPB and leased to the Construction Careers Foundation (CCF) for an expansion of the McMurry Training Center in Casper. Currently, the McMurry Training Center has capacity for 125 students a day. The building expansion would allow the Training Center to expand its entry level classes and then add advanced classes in construction, energy and leadership.
• The town of Greybull requests a $3 million Business Committed grant to install a raw water line, municipal water line, sewer (Phase 1) and a paved industrial road (Phase 2) within the Greybull Industrial Site, formerly the Standard Oil Co. Greybull Refinery. This would facilitate the start-up of the Big Horn Basin Ethanol (BHBE) plant. As a result of the project, 33 new jobs would be created. Three additional privately owned lots would be developable as a result of the project.
• The Laramie Regional Airport Joint Powers Board (JPB) requests a $3 million Community Readiness grant to construct a 50,000 square foot building. The building would be used for speculative manufacturing space at the Laramie Regional Airport Professional Airpark Research Center (PARC). Finished office space would be 2,500 square feet. The remaining space would be for manufacturing and could possibly be subdivided into spaces for two businesses.
• Hot Springs County and the Thermopolis Hot Springs County Economic Development Company (EDC) request a $3 million Community Readiness grant for the two phase development of a 22-acre business park south of Thermopolis, known as Red Rock Business Park. The first phase would involve design work and the installation of a sewer main to the future business park. Phase 2 of the project would involve the looping of water line and build 14 lots within the business park.
• The city of Cody, in cooperation with the Cody Land Development Corporation (CLDC), request a $3 million Community Readiness grant for a two phase project to bring water and sewer infrastructure to the North Cody Light Industrial Area, the area straddling Road 2AB north of the Shoshone River. The infrastructure would increase the potential for business and light industrial development of approximately 65.5 acres. The undeveloped CLDC property would be subdivided according to business needs, but lots could range from 5 acres to 33 acres.
• The town of Pinedale requests a $1 million Community Readiness grant to replace a 10” sewer line with a 24” sewer line to the west end of town. The town needs to install 9,415 feet of 24” sewer line from the town’s wastewater plant to the west end of the town where the town’s only developable commercial and residential properties are located. The increased capacity would make 50 vacant commercial lots business ready.
• The Bear River Regional Water Joint Powers Board (Bear River JPB) requests a $1.5 million Community Readiness grant for water lines branching off of a new water transmission line between the town of Bear River and Evanston along Highway 89. The requested funds would distribute water into a series of industrial areas along Highway 89.
• The city of Rock Springs requests a $912,748 Business Committed grant to construct a 2,860 square foot daycare facility to be operated by the YWCA. The project would create 14 full time equivalent jobs in the first three years of operation with an average wage of $10.25. Lack of quality daycare has been a limiting factor for workforce availability.
• Sheridan County requests a $940,680 Community Readiness grant to complete the second phase of a business park at the Sheridan County Airport. This request includes funding for water, sewer, storm drainage, gas, power, telephone, cable, and paved roadways. The infrastructure would develop 16 acres and provide 12 additional commercial lots.
• The town of Thayne requests a $790,000 Community Readiness grant for the looping of a waterline, sewer extension, and paving of Wright and Park Streets. These two streets border a new elementary school currently under construction (construction to be completed next year). The town has rezoned the 10+ acre properties across from the new school as Commercial.
• The town of Pine Bluffs requests a $1.5 million Community Readiness grant to construct an 8,500 square foot, single-story building on five lots in downtown Pine Bluffs. The building would be owned by the town and leased to up to four different tenants, depending on final design and business interest.
• The town of Opal requests a $321,582 Community Readiness grant to extend a sewer line and pave the commercially and residentially zoned Solliday Street. Most of the lots along Solliday Street are owned by the town and most are vacant, save one residence and a pump house.
• Kemmerer requests a $1.5 million Community Readiness grant to construct a training space at a to-be-constructed event center which will serve southern Lincoln County. Approximately 4,000 square feet of space would be used primarily for business and industry training and other business related events. Other space would be used for training purposes but is designed to be multi-purpose.
• The city of Rawlins requests a $3 million Business Committed grant for a phased project which will extend water and sewer services 4.5 miles west of the current city limits. The first phase would allow for the design and installation of a new sewer system and rehabilitation of existing mains where they would tie in to the new system. The second phase would involve the design and construction of a water line and 2.2 million gallon storage system.
• Riverton requests a $1.5 million Community Readiness grant to help pay for infrastructure to serve a proposed Job Corps Center. The Job Corps center would be located on 153 acres of city owned property near the Airport Business Park. If Riverton is selected by the U.S. Department of Labor for the newest Job Corps Center, site work would begin in the spring of 2008.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Applications

The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) is a federally funded pass through grant program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Business Council is Wyoming’s designated agency for administering the program.

The Business Council administers both the Community Development CDBG and Economic Development CDBG awards. The board will consider 10 Community Development CDBG applications and six Economic Development CDBG applications.

The Community Development CDBG requests include:

• Uinta County requests $300,000 for an addition to make the Carnegie Building in Evanston Americans with Disabilities (ADA) compliant. The building houses the Uinta County Museum and Evanston Chamber of Commerce. The proposed project consists of an accessible entrance and addition to the building featuring a wide corridor constructed from the rear of the existing building that links the existing building with the new addition.
• The city of Evanston requests $221,770 for downtown sidewalk replacement. The scope of the proposed project is to replace dilapidated sidewalks and adjacent curb and gutter on the main pedestrian thoroughfare of Main Street, between 9th Street and 11th Street. By replacing existing sidewalks that are in poor condition, the city of Evanston would continue to prevent blight in the community.
• Albany County requests $299,524 for the expansion of the Downtown Clinic (DTC). The DTC provides care to low-income uninsured persons in Albany County. The clinic is at maximum capacity and in need of additional space. The proposed project is for the purchase, rehabilitation and expansion of the building where the DTC is currently renting space.
• The town of Afton requests $300,000 for the construction of the Turning Point shelter to be located in Afton. The Turning Point is the agency in Lincoln County that assists victims of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault. Currently, the main office shelter/safe house is located in Kemmerer, which is over 100 miles away, with an outreach office in Star Valley.
• Campbell County requests $300,000 to eliminate specific conditions of blight and physical decay involving the Recluse Community Hall in Recluse. The Recluse Hall serves the northern half of Campbell County and is the only community facility located in the area.
• The town of Jackson requests $35,000 to help El Puente bridge a financial gap for a one year period. El Puente supports medical interpretation services for Spanish-speaking residents in Teton County. Approximately 31 percent of the population of Jackson is Latino, with 15 percent in the entire county.
• The city of Worland requests $300,000 for the purchase of two modular units for Big Horn Enterprises (BHE). BHE provides critical life skills and vocational services for Wyoming adults with disabilities in Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park and Washakie counties. BHE’s current facility in Worland is too small for current and future needs. One of the units would be offices and the other would be a daytime habilitation facility.
• The city of Sheridan requests $141,910 to upgrade the kitchen equipment at the Sheridan Senior Center. The upgrades would allow the center to meet health and safety issues pertaining to food preparation; accommodate special dietary needs and expand the capability to prepare and distribute meals.
• The city of Powell requests $115,000 to construct a kitchen/dining room area in the Big Horn Enterprises (BHE). The BHE facility in Powell has problems due to the layout of the building and size of the kitchen/dining room. The construction would provide adequate space for eating, training and socializing in a safe and accessible environment.
• The town of Lyman requests $201,750 for the demolition of buildings at the entrance to its downtown. The town acquired property that has buildings that are dilapidated, no longer in use and would be too expensive to renovate. The demolition would allow for a master plan of the site that would include other new businesses on Lyman’s Main Street.

For more information on the Economic Development CDBG requests, visit http://www.wyomingbusiness.org/pdf/irc/cdbg_grants_Dec_2006.pdf. The Economic Development CDBG requests include:

• Carbon County requests a $25,000 planning only grant for the Carbon County Higher Education Center. CDBG funds would be combined with funds from the Carbon County Higher Education Center and Rawlins Boys and Girls Club to hire a consultant to conduct a feasibility study to determine the viability of consolidating some of the functions and services of the two organizations to provide child care services to parents in training.
• Converse County requests a $22,500 planning only grant for the County Care Center, Inc. Residents of Glenrock currently have no assisted living or long term care available within the community. The result of a previous feasibility study, regarding an assisted living facility in the Glenrock community, was positive. Funds would be used for the next step of the planning and design process. The scope of work would focus on the facility size, structure, design characteristics, and operation.
• The city of Rock Springs requests a $7,500 planning only grant for the Sweetwater County Events Complex. The Sweetwater County Events Complex hosts 736 event days a year. They are a major contributor to the annual direct tourism expenditures in Sweetwater County. The complex has begun to broaden the scope of events they host to attract more nationally recognized activities. CDBG funds, along with funds from Sweetwater County Events Complex, would be used to hire a consultant to develop a marketing package.
• The city of Sheridan requests a $25,000 planning only grant for a cultural sector inventory. Previous studies provide the foundation for the cultured industry sector planning. With the funds, an “Economic Inventory, Assessment, Strategy and Work Plan” for the cultural sector would be developed by a professional consulting team, comprised of an economic developer and an architect.
• The town of Star Valley Ranch requests a $25,000 planning only grant for a master plan. CDBG funds along with funds from the town of Star Valley Ranch would be used to hire a consultant to develop a master plan. This would involve addressing a mix of residential, commercial and recreational issues that meet the needs of the community, as well as establishing necessary ordinances.
• The city of Torrington requests a $25,000 planning only grant for a sewer master plan. Funds would be used to hire a consultant to prepare a new master plan which would guide the maintenance development and expansion of the water and sewer systems of the Torrington area. This area includes the city of Torrington, the South Torrington Water and Sewer District and the West Highway Water and Sewer District.

Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors Meeting
December 7, 2006
Wyoming Technology Business Center – 1938 Harney St. – Laramie, Wyoming
Tentative Agenda

10:00 AM Public Meeting Convenes – Technology Incubator Center

Welcome & Introductions – Co Chair Bill Britz
Minutes Approval, Sept. 7

Committee Reports
Planning, Budget & Audit Committee – Gus Fleischli, Chair

Financials
Personnel
Contracts
Development Counsellors International
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
Tourism Contract Report

WY Telecommunications Report – Larry Biggio & Nina Cornell
WY Technology Organization – Shawn Mills

Public Comment

Grants, Subsidies, Loans & Venture Capital – Jim Davis, Chair

Grant Monitoring Report
Business Ready Community (BRC) Applications
Community Development Block Grants

Community Development Applications
Economic Development Applications

Loan/Portfolio Material

Other Business

2007 Meeting Locations & Schedule

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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