The Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) Thursday approved 19 Business Ready Community (BRC) grant and loan requests totaling $15,002,625.
The Wyoming Business Council administers the BRC program. The program provides financing for publicly-owned infrastructure that serves the needs of businesses and promotes economic development and diversity within Wyoming communities.
The Business Council Board of Directors is required by state statute to forward all BRC recommendations to the SLIB for final approval. The SLIB comprises the five statewide elected officials: governor, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer and state superintendent of public instruction.
The SLIB approved the following projects:
BRC Business Committed
- Laramie County requests a $2,859,784 Business Committed grant and a $557,935 loan to construct a 20,000 square-foot building to be used as a manufacturing and warehouse facility with business offices for Wyoming Malting Company and Pine Bluffs Distilling. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
BRC Business Committed Senior Care/Child Care
- Sheridan requests a $1 million Senior Care grant to remodel and expand the food service area in the Sheridan Senior Center located at 211 Smith St. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
- Teton County requests a $750,000 Child Care grant to assist with the construction of a new facility for the Children’s Learning Center at 105 Mercill Ave. in Jackson. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
BRC Community Readiness
- Cheyenne requests a $3 million Community Readiness grant to complete the Christensen Railroad Overpass and Corridor project. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
- Cheyenne Regional Airport Joint Powers Board requests a $3 million Community Readiness grant to build a new terminal for the Cheyenne Regional Airport. The project includes the 28,700 square-foot terminal building, a new apron for aircraft parking, a new parking lot and road system. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
BRC Community Enhancement
- Casper requests a $500,000 Community Enhancement grant for Phase II of the Platte River Revival. The project is a restoration project for 13.5 miles of the North Platte River and its banks that traverse Casper. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
- Natrona County Economic Development JPB, in cooperation with the Casper Downtown Development Authority, requests a $500,000 Community Enhancement grant for Phase I of the Casper Downtown Public Plaza project consisting of property acquisition, environmental studies and site clearance and preparation. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
- Cheyenne requests a $500,000 Community Enhancement grant for the West Edge Streetscape and Civic Center Commons project. This project is part of a large-scale revitalization of the area adjacent to and west of Cheyenne’s central business district. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
- Gillette requests a $275,000 Community Enhancement grant to construct a 400 square-foot restroom facility, including water and sewer to the site, and parking lot improvements at the southwest corner of 3rd and Kendrick streets in downtown Gillette. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
- Green River requests an $84,000 Community Enhancement grant to purchase and install wayfinding signs. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
- Jackson requests a $500,000 Community Enhancement grant and a $1,201,256 BRC loan to make improvements to the Snow King Sports and Events Center located at 100 East Snow King Ave. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
BRC Planning
- Crook County requests a $25,000 planning grant for a feasibility study of County Road 68 (also known as D Road). (Approved by the SLIB in full)
- Goshen County requests a $50,000 planning grant to develop a targeted industry study. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
- Green River requests a $25,000 planning grant to develop an urban renewal plan for its central business district. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
- Johnson County, in cooperation with the city of Buffalo and the Kaycee, Buffalo Johnson County Economic Development JPB requests a $24,650 planning grant to address the feasibility of expanding the Bomber Mountain Civic Center, formerly the Clear Creek Elementary School. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
- Laramie County requests a $25,000 planning grant for analysis of the Laramie County Fair location. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
- Natrona County requests a $50,000 planning grant to complete an updated comprehensive economic development strategy. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
- Pine Bluffs requests a $50,000 planning grant to develop a master plan for a 318-acre parcel north of town. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
- Sundance requests a $25,000 planning grant for a downtown feasibility study. (Approved by the SLIB in full)
*Press Release from Wyoming Business Council