FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 22, 2007

For more information contact:

Rachel Girt, Marketing and Public Relations
Wyoming Business Council
Office: 307.777.2851
Email:  rachel.girt@wybusiness.org

 Shawn Reese
Director, Investment Ready Communities Division
Wyoming Business Council
Office: 307.777.2813
Email:  shawn.reese@wybusiness.org

 Wyoming Business Council grants go before State Loan and Investment Board

Attached is MP3 quote from Shawn Reese, director of Investment Ready Communities Division, on upcoming SLIB meeting

CHEYENNE – The State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) will offer final decision on seven Business Ready Community Grants at 8 a.m., Jan. 24 in room B63 in the Herschler Building in Cheyenne.

SLIB is made up of the five statewide elected officials:  Gov. Dave Freudenthal, Secretary of State Max Maxfield, State Treasurer Joe Meyer, State Auditor Rita Meyer and Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jim McBride. By statute, the Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors forwards Business Ready Community Grant applications and recommendations to SLIB for final decision.

The Business Ready Community program helps communities throughout Wyoming implement infrastructure such as water, sewer, streets, telecommunications, airports, rights of way, land, spec buildings, or amenities within a business park, industrial park, industrial site or business district or other appropriate physical projects in support of primary economic development. Cities, towns, counties and joint powers boards are the primary applicants for this program.

      Seven Business Ready Community grants worth $8.9 million will go before SLIB on Jan. 24. The Business Council board gave a positive recommendation to the following Business Ready Community Grant and Loan projects:

LARAMIE: The city of Laramie is recommended for a $1.5 million BRC Business Committed grant to construct an 8,000-square foot office building in the Laramie River Business Park to facilitate the expansion of Trihydro Corp. Trihydro intends to purchase a 1.67-acre lot in the business park adjacent to the company’s existing facility from the Laramie Economic Development Corporation. The lot will then be conveyed to the city.

LUSK: The town of Lusk is recommended for a $1.5 million BRC Community Readiness grant for the purchase of a 38.7-acre tract of land and installation of infrastructure for a new business park. The grant funds will also be used for the construction of internal streets, connections to sewerlines, waterlines, and electrical hook-ups. These infrastructure improvements will develop about half of the 38.7 acres, and the new infrastructure will stub into the back half of the property making that land easily developable in the future for additional business space or a residential neighborhood.

NATRONA COUNTY: Natrona County is recommended for a $1.5 million BRC Community Readiness grant to construct an 8,000+ long rail spur off the mail line of Burlington Northern Santa Fe. The county-owned spur will be located on 700 acres of privately-owned land adjacent to the Natrona County International Airport. The rail spur will be on the right-of-way donated to the county by the Bishop Industrial Park, LLC.

TIGER JPB IN LANDER: Tiger Joint Powers Board was recommended for a $451,140 BRC Community Readiness grant for infrastructure. This grant will complete the second phase of the business park by paving 1,000 linear feet of 12th Street and Vocational Drive.

COWLEY: The town of Cowley is recommended for a $300,000 grant for proposed main street enhancements (ornamental lighting, decorative benches, landscaping) to be matched with funds from the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) and the town.

GREEN RIVER: The town of Green River is recommended for a $200,000 BRC Community Enhancement grant for the construction of a Green River Visitors Center. The city will own the facility and lease it to the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber will occupy a portion of the building and use the balance for tourist information. The building will be 1,766 square feet. The Chamber is currently located in a downtown storefront. The new location will place the Chamber near the Toll Gate, Palisades rock formations and across the street from the Wild Horse Loop Tour.

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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