FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Dec. 7, 2006

For more information contact:
Steve Achter, Director of Investment Ready Communities
Wyoming Business Council
Office: 307.777.2811, Cell: 307.631.1127

WBC Board approves 14 CDBG grants

LARAMIE – The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors approved 14 Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), totaling $1.5 million, during a meeting on December 7 in Laramie.

The board approved eight Community Development applications and six Economic Development applications.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is a federally funded pass through grant program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Its purpose is to provide funds for projects that develop viable communities. The Business Council is Wyoming’s designated agency for administering the program. The program is broken into community development and economic development grants.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

The CDBG program had only $1.4 million available for community development. The board reviewed ten Community Development grants, which totaled $2.2 million, and approved eight grants, totaling $1.4 million. Of the eight approved grants, five received only partial funding. The board did not approve grants by Powell and Lyman.

The board approved the following community development grants:

• UINTA COUNTY: Uinta County received $181,087 to help make the Carnegie Building in Evanston handicap accessible. The building houses the Uinta County Museum and Evanston Chamber of Commerce. The county’s original request was for $300,000.
• EVANSTON: The city of Evanston received $139,297 to help with downtown sidewalk replacement. The city’s original request was for $221,770. The proposed project will replace dilapidated sidewalks and adjacent curb and gutter on the main pedestrian thoroughfare of Main Street, between 9th Street and 11th Street.
• ALBANY COUNTY: Albany County received $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 grant will be used to purchase, rehabilitate and expand the building where the DTC is currently renting space.
• AFTON: The town of Afton received $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: Campbell County received $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.
• JACKSON: The town of Jackson received $33,250 to help El Puente bridge a financial gap for a one year period. The town’s original request was for $35,000. 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.
• WORLAND: The city of Worland received $100,000 for the purchase of a modular unit for Big Horn Enterprises (BHE) to be used for individualized daytime skill development. 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. The city’s original request was for $300,000 to pay for two modular units.
• SHERIDAN: The city of Sheridan received $39,813 to help upgrade the kitchen equipment at the Sheridan Senior Center. The original request was for $141,910. The upgrades will 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.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

The board approved six economic development applications, totaling $130,000.

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

• CARBON COUNTY: Carbon County received a $25,000 planning only grant for the Carbon County Higher Education Center. The CDBG funds will 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: Converse County received 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 will be used for the next step of the planning and design process. The scope of work will focus on the facility size, structure, design characteristics, and operation.
• ROCK SPRINGS: The city of Rock Springs received 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, will be used to hire a consultant to develop a marketing package.
• SHERIDAN: The city of Sheridan requested a $25,000 planning only grant for a cultural sector inventory. Previous studies provide the foundation for the cultural industry sector planning. With the funds, an “Economic Inventory, Assessment, Strategy and Work Plan” for the cultural sector will be developed by a professional consulting team, comprised of an economic developer and an architect.
• STAR VALLEY RANCH: The town of Star Valley Ranch received a $25,000 planning only grant for a master plan. CDBG funds along with funds from the town of Star Valley Ranch will be used to hire a consultant to develop a master plan. This will involve addressing a mix of residential, commercial and recreational issues that meet the needs of the community, as well as establishing necessary ordinances.
• TORRINGTON: The city of Torrington received a $25,000 planning only grant for a sewer master plan. Funds will be used to hire a consultant to prepare a new master plan that 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.

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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