| Welcome to the fall edition of the Council Connection, the official newsletter of the Wyoming Business Council.
Here's a brief look at what the Business Council has been up to. To keep abreast of all we have going on, be sure to check our website for new information, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Gov. Mead's 2nd Wyoming Broadband Summit set for October
Gov. Matt Mead, the state of Wyoming, LinkWYOMING, and the Wyoming Business Council will host the 2nd Wyoming Broadband Summit at the Little America Hotel and Convention Center in Cheyenne, Wyo., Oct. 29, 2013.
The event is a key opportunity to lead broadband innovation and growth and to create strategic actions to build a better broadband future for Wyoming. Participants will continue the work started at last year’s summit, network with internet service professionals and other Wyoming leaders, and hear about best practices in expanding and using broadband.
For more information or to register, visit: http://wyomingbusiness.org/program/wyoming-broadband-summit/6653
Business Council campaign features more Wyoming business successes
The Business Council's "Declare Wyoming" campaign is gaining momentum, and we appreciate all of you who have participated so far by sharing with us why you "Declare Wyoming" for your business and lifestyle.
Our latest video features Green House Data president Shawn Mills. Watch Mills explain what makes Wyoming the perfect place for his data center company: http://www.declarewyoming.com/#!green-house-data/cfkl
Learn more at: www.declarewyoming.com.
Business
Council receives national recognition for access to capital efforts
The Wyoming Business Council received a Champion of
Small Business Award from the National Coalition for Capital (NCFC) in August.
The award recognizes economic development and
government leaders for demonstrating leadership in supporting policies and
initiatives designed to promote access to capital for small businesses and
entrepreneurs in their regions.
The Business Council offers a variety of loan
programs, issues Industrial Development Bonds, and administers the Wyoming
Small Business Investment Credit Program, as well as the Wyoming Partnership
Challenge Loan Program.
For more information
on these programs, contact Ryan Whitehead, Business Council business finance
manager, at 307.777.2882 or ryan.whitehead@wyo.gov.
Business Council board sends grant recommendations to SLIB
The Business Council board recommended the State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB)
approve seven grant requests totaling $4,531,227 at its Sept. 5 meeting in Lander, Wyo.
The Business Council board is required by statute to forward Business Ready Community grant recommendations to the SLIB for final approval.
Click here for the list of grants.
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Oct. 8-10: AgriFuture Conference, Laramie, Wyo.
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Oct. 9-11: WEDA and Wyoming Chamber Partnership Fall Conference, Cody, Wyo.
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Oct. 18: Wyoming Main Street Advisory Board meeting, in conjunction with the quarterly Managers Meeting, Rock Springs, Wyo.
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Oct. 29: Wyoming Broadband Summit, Cheyenne, Wyo.
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Nov. 7: Southeast Wyoming Economic Forecast Lunch, Cheyenne, Wyo.
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Nov. 14: State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) meeting, Cheyenne, Wyo.
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Nov. 18-20: Gov. Mead Business Forum, Cheyenne, Wyo.
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Nov. 21: Wyoming Rural Development Council Fall Board meeting, Casper, Wyo.
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Dec. 4: Business Council Winter Board meeting, Cheyenne, Wyo.
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Dec. 12: State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) meeting, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Help for ag producers to go organic
Wyoming
agriculture producers interested in going organic may now apply for grants to
help offset the costs associated with certification.
The Wyoming
Business Council Agribusiness Division and the Wyoming Department of
Agriculture administer the USDA Organic Certification Reimbursement program to
help producers become organically certified.
The grant
covers 75 percent of organic certification costs up to $750. It reimburses applicants for expenditures,
which must be made before receiving an award. More: http://www.wyomingbusiness.org/news/article/funding-available-to-help-ag-producers-/7878
Wyoming State Fair Hay Show winners
Producers from around the state earned winning titles this summer for their premium hay at the Wyoming State Fair Hay Show.
Congratulations to Dwayne Anderson of Pine Bluffs, Wyo., for taking the champion title in the Grass Hay Division; and to Dave Hinman of Wheatland, Wyo., for his grand champion wins in the Alfalfa and Mixed Hay Divisions. Hinman also won the Best
of Show and Premier Hay Exhibitor titles, which recognizes the exhibitor who
has the most entries placing the highest among all four divisions.
The Business Council will forward these entries, and several other samples, on to the World’s Forage Analysis Superbowl at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis., Sept. 31‐Oct. 5. More: http://www.wyomingbusiness.org/news/article/wyoming-state-fair-hay-show-winners-/7863
Agribusiness welcomes new staff member
The Agribusiness Division will welcome Kacy Atkinson to the team Oct. 1, 2013. Atkinson was hired by the Business Council in August and she will fill the role of agricultural program manager-leadership development for the division.
The position is responsible for overall coordination, administration and development of leadership programs in the Agribusiness division including the Wyoming L.E.A.D. program, the Rural Rehabilitation Fund youth grant program, and developing and administering additional educational workshops for agricultural producers and for other business professionals in Wyoming.
Prior to accepting the position with the Business Council, she worked for the Colorado State University Extension office in Arapahoe County, Colo., as the 4-H youth development and livestock production agent.
The Wyoming First Program assists Wyoming companies with the identification and promotion of their Wyoming-Made products and services. To learn more about this program or to become a member visit Wyoming Made. Contact Terri Barr at 307.777.2807 or terri.barr@wyo.gov.
General Mercantile at CFD and state fair sees big success
It was a great year for the Wyoming companies whose product were being sold at the General Mercantile in the Old Frontier Town at Cheyenne Frontier Days and the Wyoming Mercantile at Wyoming State Fair.
Customers from all over the world stopped in to see what Wyoming has to offer and buy the products they want from the state they love.
A news release with more details will be distributed presently.
FEATURED WYOMING BUSINESS
Kim's Kreations, Inc., of Laramie, Wyo., makes educational tools to assist individuals in their cognitive, physical, and emotional abilities. BoogieBaby® Dolls make great playmates for dancing and physical fitness with BusyBee Exercises. The "Faces in the Clouds" bring a visual tool with KID FRIENDLY® directions to enhance an individual's emotional balance.
For more information visit: http://www.kimskreationsinc.com/
The B&I Division continues to work closely with the Department of Transportation
to update the state rail plan which is expected to take 15 to 18 months to complete. Contact Ben Avery for more information at 307.777.2863 or ben.avery@wyo.gov.
A
contract is in place with Jim Graham, Nuclear Fuel Consulting, to begin the
assessment of the feasibility of building a new Uranium Conversion facility and
locating it in Wyoming.
Energy Audits/Renewable Energy Assessments
The State Energy Office will continue its partnership with UW Extension and Manufacturing Works to offer funding and support for small businesses, agricultural producers, non-profits and divisions of local government pursing energy audits and/or renewable energy assessments. Currently, there are 15 grant agreements in place for the Small Business Energy Audit Program and the SEO looks forward helping others interested in the program.
For more information, contact Sherry Hughes at 307.777.2824 or sherry.hughes@wyo.gov.
WYLite
The WYLite program officially kicked off the pilot program on July 1, 2012. The WYLite program provides support to public sector and not-for-profit agencies to reduce utility use and cost and to improve their buildings’ operational performance through the implementation of energy efficiency, conservation and capital improvements.
For more information, contact Sherry Hughes at 307.777.2824 or sherry.hughes@wyo.gov.
Energy Audits/Renewable Energy Assessments
The State Energy Office will continue its partnership with UW Extension and Manufacturing Works to offer funding and support for small businesses, agricultural producers, non-profits and divisions of local government pursing energy audits and/or renewable energy assessments. Currently, there are 15 grant agreements in place for the Small Business Energy Audit Program and the SEO looks forward helping others interested in the program.
Link: http://www.wyomingbusiness.org/program/small-business-energy-audit-and-/6663
For more information, contact Sherry Hughes at 307.777.2824 or sherry.hughes@wyo.gov.
WYLite
The WYLite program officially kicked off the pilot program on July 1, 2012. The WYLite program provides support to public sector and not-for-profit agencies to reduce utility use and cost and to improve their buildings’ operational performance through the implementation of energy efficiency, conservation and capital improvements.
Link: http://www.wyomingbusiness.org/program/wy-lite/6309
For more information, contact Sherry Hughes at 307.777.2824 or sherry.hughes@wyo.gov.
The Wyoming Business Council and University of Wyoming Business Resource Network provide all levels of assistance for Wyoming businesses. For more information, visit the Wyoming Business Resource Network.
FEATURED PARTNER:
Wyoming Council for Women's Issues
Addressing the needs of women and girls in Wyoming and funded by the Wyoming State Legislature, WCWI's volunteer members are appointed by the governor, including nine representing the state's judicial districts, four at-large members and one ex-officio from the Wyoming Business Council. For more information, visit www.wyomingwomenscouncil.org
New grant software up and running
Grantsmith, a
new software program the IRC Division is using to collect and organize its
community and economic development data, is now
officially implemented. On Sept. 3, passwords and basic use instructions were sent
to users. The Grantsmith system is a major change for staff and the many users,
but the end result is expected to streamline processes for everyone.
Shaun Jones, senior grant and loan specialist, is
IRC's in-house system expert and is available to assist anyone that might have
questions about the new system. He may
be reached at shaun.jones@wyo.gov or 307.777.2821.
Additionally, online training is now available
at http://www.wyomingbusiness.org/program/intro-to-grantsmith-training/7848.
Upcoming Wyoming Main Street Events
Annual Reviews of the Main Street programs in
Sheridan, Evanston, Douglas and Pinedale, Wyo., are scheduled for September and
October.
The application process for new Main Street
communities is in progress with a deadline of Dec. 1 for interested communities to submit their application. Wyoming Main Street asks that communities interested
in applying submit a letter of intent.
The next Wyoming Main Street Advisory Board and Manager Meeting
will be held in Rock Springs, Wyo., Oct. 18, followed by training on Main Street’s
Economic Restructuring Point, Oct. 19, in Green River, Wyo.
For more information on the Wyoming Main Street
program, contact Britta Mireley at 307.777.2934 or britta.mireley@wyo.gov.
Wyoming Rural Development Council
This fall, several Wyoming communities will be
involved in the Community Assessment program.
In September, the communities of Hartville and Story, Wyo., will meet with the Community Assessment team to do priority setting as a follow up to the initial Community
Assessment. Greybull and Green River, Wyo., are
scheduled for Community Assessments in September and October respectively. Tentatively, Little Snake River will have its
Community Assessment in November.
For more information on the WRDC Community
Assessment program, contact Kim Porter at 307.777.5812 or kim.porter@wyo.gov.
Small Business Saturday boon for Wyo. Main Streets
We all know about Black Friday, and the deals at "big box" stores that come along with it, but have you heard of Small Business Saturday? Small Business Saturday is the day we're all reminded to shop our local, small businesses for the holiday season.
American Express started the campaign in 2010, and gives guidance to downtown organizations, chambers of commerce and small businesses for promoting themselves as a shopping destination the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
If you are interested in learning more, visit www.SmallBusinessSaturday.com.
The Wyoming Business Council has seven regional directors and one project specialist that live and work in their regions. They help businesses, local governments and organizations overcome their development challenges.
Operations
and maintenance plans for community facilities
It seems like finding the money to develop or rehabilitate a community
facility is a large hurdle. An even
larger challenge, though few believe it when planning the facility, is funding the
on-going operations and maintenance. If
you are involved in trying to develop a new facility, or if you have an
existing facility that is struggling financially, contact your Regional
Director for help in developing an operations and maintenance plan. There may be ways to cut costs, develop new
partnerships or increase programming that brings in money.
Regional director contact information:
East Central - kim.rightmer@wyo.gov - 307.577.6012
Northeast - dave.spencer@wyo.gov -307.689.1320
Northwest - leah.bruscino@wyo.gov - 307.754.5785
South Central - pat.robbins@wyo.gov - 307.382.3163
Southeast - thomas.johnson@wyo.gov - 307.766.5357
Southwest - elaina.zempel@wyo.gov - 307.877.2203
West Central - roger.bower@wyo.gov - 307.857.1155 |
