The Wyoming Business Council released its annual benchmarks report Thursday, Jan. 3, detailing the state economic development agency’s progress toward diversifying the economy, increasing innovation, improving access to new markets and strengthening Wyoming communities.
The Business Council serves Wyoming through a business development and community development division in Cheyenne, six regional directors spread across the state and a wide network of business resource partners.
Highlights in 2018 include:
- Recruiting Weatherby headquarters and manufacturing operations from California to Sheridan.
- Funding the construction of a new facility in Cody to accommodate Gunwerks as it nearly doubles its workforce to 110 employees.
- Rock Springs winning a prestigious national award recognizing its revitalization of the downtown area. The city is the second in the Business Council’s Wyoming Main Street program to win the award.
- Ensuring the continued operations of WyoTech through a challenge loan. With the Business Council’s help, former WyoTech student, instructor and CEO Jim Mathis expects to employ 95 workers in the next two years.
- Bringing together more than 220 industry leaders and public partners through the Next Gen Sector Partnerships strategy to strengthen various industries throughout the state.
- Launching Kickstart and SBIR Matching grant programs for startup companies. The initial round of funding provided $730,000 to 10 startups. Those companies have the potential to create a total of 45 to 55 new jobs.
- Hiring a broadband manager, establishing a statewide broadband plan, creating a $10 million broadband infrastructure grant program and appointing a Broadband Advisory Council to oversee it.
- Partnering with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to establish a revolving loan fund with federal money to clean up and redevelop contaminated land.
- Launching a new placemaking grant to bring hands-on workshops to teach local officials an approach to community development using inexpensive materials and temporary demonstrations.
- Revamping the Trade Show and Market Expansion grant program to allow more uses and open new opportunities for businesses to explore markets outside Wyoming.
- Hiring an international trade coordinator, opening an Asia-Pacific trade office and introducing Wyoming-branded beef to Taiwan.
Visit our YouTube channel or our website to read and watch coverage of these events and many more.
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