News

Summer of 2022 Challenging for Wyoming Dude Ranches

Monday, September 19, 2022

Craig Kenyon is living his dream. As the owner of the Absaroka Mountain Lodge near Cody, Kenyon usually spends his summers wrangling horses, greeting guests, and managing the business. But staff shortages at the end of the season mean that Kenyon is also washing dishes, doing piles of laundry and other tasks that are normally done by hired hands. Read full article.

UW College of Business Draws 300 Students, 85 Companies to Recent Career Fair

Monday, September 19, 2022

This year, the University of Wyoming College of Business embarked on a mission to develop a more inclusive and equitable career fair for its business students. In addition to reducing registration barriers, the college provided UW-branded T-shirts to students who attended with the expectation that they would sport jeans for the event rather than suits and ties. Read full article.

A Gillette railroad union leader says agreement between major freight railroads and rail unions is a start

Friday, September 16, 2022

A tentative agreement was struck between railroad companies and railroad workers after a 20-hour long marathon negotiating session on Sept. 15. The agreement, for now, avoids a nationwide freight rail strike that would have brought both freight and passenger trains to a standstill. It would have, also, impacted Amtrak on most of its network as the majority of its routes are operated over the tracks of freight railroads. Kevin Knutson is a Gillette-based conductor and union leader. He said he’s happy with the agreement. Read full article.

How an attendance policy brought the U.S. to the brink of a nationwide rail strike

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Like so many essential workers in the pandemic, the engineers and conductors who drive the nation's freight trains have had it. They're tired of unpredictable, inflexible work schedules. They're tired of being penalized for taking days off when they're sick or tending to a family emergency. They want a better quality of life. Through contract negotiations, they made their voices heard, threatening a strike that could have brought trains to a halt nationwide on Friday. Read full article.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE INVESTS $3.4 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS TO SUPPORT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND JOB GROWTH IN CAMPBELL COUNTY, WYOMING

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $3.4 million in American Rescue Plan grants to support Wyoming communities economically impacted by the declining use of coal and the coronavirus pandemic. These grants are funded by EDA’s $300 million Coal Communities Commitment. Campbell County will receive a $2.8 million grant for infrastructure improvements at the Pronghorn Industrial Park to support business growth and job creation. This EDA investment will be matched by $593,423 in local funds and is expected to create and retain 90 jobs and generate $25 million i...

Crowdfunding program launches for locals only

Friday, September 09, 2022

The Sundance Economic Development Task Force is introducing a new way to invest in your community, whether by pioneering a project you think would improve local lives or offering financial support for someone else’s good idea. The program is based on the idea of crowdfunding, popularized through such sites as GoFundMe and Kickstarter. What makes it different, says Andy Miller, who is spearheading the effort for Crook County, is that the Northeast Wyoming Crowd (or NEW Crowd) is entirely local. It began, he says, with a $25,000 grant from The Local Crowd of Laramie to Campbell County’s economic development organization. “They reached ou...

A NEW ERA FOR MONEY

Thursday, September 01, 2022

Money has transformed human society, enabling commerce and trade even between widely dispersed geographic locations. It allows the transfer of wealth and resources across space and over time. But for much of human history, it has also been the object of rapacity and depredation. Money is now on the cusp of a transformation that could reshape banking, finance, and even the structure of society. Most notably, the era of physical currency, or cash, is drawing to an end, even in low- and middle-income countries; the age of digital currencies has begun. A new round of competition between official and private currencie...

Relocating to Upton Can offset Rising Inflation

Friday, August 19, 2022

Inflation has become the front and center topic of discussion across the country. The cost of everything from groceries and gasoline to real estate and utilities is on the rise. As businesses see the cost of goods soaring and consumers pay more at the checkout stand and in their monthly bills, they question how to save money. Upton may be the answer. National reports indicate current inflation rates have exceeded 8% - higher than at any time since the 1980s. As of July 2022, real average hourly earnings for U.S. employees increased by 0.5%, resulting in a 1% increase in th...

The Future is Bright for Upton Municipal Airport

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

The Upton Municipal Airport has played a key role in Upton’s economy and infrastructure for many years. In the 1970’s Goodwell and Materi Exploration were the primary businesses using the airport, and Ed Hagerman was a flight instructor in Upton in the 1980’s. Since the Upton Municipal Airport was FAA chartered in 1960, the airport has worked to create more transportation access points in Upton, to put the town on the map. The Upton Municipal Airport is made up of a volunteer board which runs the operations at the airport. Lori Materi leads the board as chairperson, with volunteers that mak...

Believing Who You Are

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

It takes but a cursory glance at our list of top-performing non-metros, and a one-word theme emerges: Georgia. Based on numerical tallies of projects that qualify for inclusion in Site Selection’s Conway Projects Database, Georgia placed two non-metro communities among the nation’s top five and seven among the top 50 during the 12-month period ending April 30. They range from the South Georgia town of Alma — which accumulated five qualifying investments totaling nearly $30 million of capital expenditure — to Blairsville (population: 725) in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Blairsville’s two qualifying projects include the $1.6 million Grandaddy Mimm’s Distilling Co...

Here’s Who Decides What Quality of Life Means

Monday, August 15, 2022

Quoting Site Selection colleagues isn’t a reportorial practice we typically employ. But in this instance, a thought-provoking presentation by Editor-in-Chief Mark Arend served as the prompt for an inquiry into attracting top talent through “quality of life” enhancements. QOL has rocketed up the priority list of economic developers. “In many cases today,” Mark observed in mid-May at the City Nation Place conference hosted out of Pittsburgh, “quality of life rivals traditional location priorities. QOL attributes are increasingly important to talent, and finding the right talent is more important to companies today than ever before.” Read full article.

Discover the Benefits of Upton’s Farmers Market this Summer

Friday, August 12, 2022

Each Tuesday throughout the summer season, local vendors gather at the Upton Farmers Market to sell a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits, homemade canned items, jams, jellies, freeze-dried foods, handmade crafts, salsa, wax melts and more. But farmers markets are so much more than niche operations for discerning customers. Farmers markets boost the local economy, build a sense of community pride and promote a healthy respect for a sustainable local environment. Farmers markets are critical contributors to local job creation and the cultivation of strong, vibrant communities. Growers selling at local outlets create thirteen full-time farm operator jobs per $...

Governor Selects new Major Project Development Manager

Thursday, August 04, 2022

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has announced an addition to his Administration’s Natural Resources policy team. Jennifer Thomson will serve as the Governor’s Major Project Development Manager. The position, developed and funded through a joint collaboration between Governor Gordon’s Office and the Wyoming Legislature, is intended to keep Wyoming at the forefront of the energy frontier. Thomson is a Wyoming native whose experience blends key aspects of the private corporate world with a fluent knowledge of federal and state regulatory processes. “I’m delighted to bring Jenn’s extensive experience and breadth of knowledge on natural resource issues, as well as he...

Housing Shortage Update - Summer 2022

Tuesday, August 02, 2022

After two grueling pandemic years, a weary world rang in a tumultuous 2022. With rapid inflation, stock market volatility, and the global ripples caused by an excruciating war in Europe, the only certainty seems to be uncertainty. The current housing market is compounding those challenges in the United States. Thanks to pandemic shutdowns, labor shortages, and supply chain issues, housing inventory at the end of 2021 was already low. With a shortage of approximately 1.5 million homes, there is less inventory to rent or buy than there has been at any time in the past 30 years. Read full article.

Get outside in Upton, WY

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Visitors head to northeast Wyoming for popular tourist attractions like Devils Tower National Monument, the Vore Buffalo Jump and the Black Hills National Forest. Amidst these natural features is Upton - a small town with ample recreation opportunities! There are many unique activities and historical sights in Upton and the surrounding area that are worth exploring as well! Recreation in Upton There are year-round recreation opportunities for Upton residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoors with families, friends and others. Upton City Park is one of Upton’s best recreation spots in the community. It features a nine-acre site with new playground equipment, picni...

In Focus: “Golden Age” of Spec Development

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

From coast to coast, demand for new warehouse and distribution space is hitting record-breaking levels. According to a recent report from Cushman & Wakefield,1 the U.S. industrial construction pipeline topped 600 million square feet for the first time ever in Q1 2022, with nearly 95 percent of that tally classified as warehouse/distribution product. Net absorption hit a staggering 108 million square feet in Q1, with 10 different markets posting more than five million square feet of new leasing activity from January to March. Read full article.

How to Gain an Edge in the Race for Talent

Monday, July 25, 2022

If you are not spending as much time developing your future workforce as you are engaging your current one, then you are falling behind your competition. That was just one of the key takeaways from the World Forum for Foreign Direct Investment held in early May in Edinburgh, Scotland. The global competition for talent has never been more intense, and only those companies that build and maintain ecosystems to support long-term talent generation and retention will survive, said a panel of experts convened at the World Forum organized by Conway Data Inc., publisher of Site Selection. Read full article.

Proving ROI in Funding Quality of Place Improvements

Monday, July 25, 2022

Proving ROI for quality of place improvements typically centers around job creation and talent attraction. Economic development organizations understand that if their community does not have the workforce, they will likely not attract new companies to their area or see expansions in their local industries. A community's quality of life and quality of place quite simply help attract and retain workers. That is absolutely a quantifiable improvement. A 2020 study by the Knight Foundation found that in the communities they serve, quality of life accounts for about a third of the moves to a metro area and a third of th...

Worried About Layoffs? 5 Tips For Job Seekers (And Job Seekers-To-Be) In A Slowing Economy

Friday, July 22, 2022

More workers are finding themselves out of a job (or becoming worried they might soon be) as a string of high-profile companies, mostly startups and in tech, have moved to freeze hiring or even to slash workers and rescind job offers. New unemployment claims edged up to an eight-month high last week. Initial unemployment claims increased by 7,000 to 251,000 in the week ending July 16, making the four-week moving average rise by 4,500 to 240,500, according to the Department of Labor. Those numbers are still a marked improvement from last July, when the four-week average of unemployment claims hit mor...

Small businesses break into the top 10

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Local businesses appear to be getting back on their feet after the pandemic, and Weston County was recently named one of the 10 best places statewide to operate small businesses, according to SmartAsset. The company released an analysis of the business landscape in Wyoming, and this county ranked ninth out of the state’s 23 counties. The study measured IRS data on the number of small businesses operating in each county, how much income they generate, and the amount they pay in taxes. Weston County ranked in the top 10 for efficiency of small businesses in the state. Read full article.

Five Types Of Talent Behind The Great Resignation

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Last summer, Shannon Harrell left a marketing role at Nestlé to work in the then booming telehealth industry at Teladoc Health. Several months later, as her new employer’s stock was falling amid disappointing results, Harrell switched her LinkedIn status to “open to work.” By April, she’d been recruited to run strategic communications and channel marketing at pet insurer PetPartners. “I saw the writing on the wall,” Harrell says. “The growth of that category looked a little uncertain, so I was—as anyone would be—concerned.” Read full article.

Are you Ready? EIDL Borrowers – Take Note!

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

The Small Business Administration (SBA) approved 5,694 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) in Wyoming, totaling more than $600,000,000. The operative word is loans. Businesses that received one of these loans need to be preparing now for payments that begin in the not so distant future; are you ready? The SBA has a system, the Capital Access Financial System (CAFS), for tracking loan information such as loan balance, interest amounts, and payment dates. Borrowers can gain access to the system following the instructions provided here: CAFS account enrollment and access – instructions for borrowers. Additional information regarding managing your EIDL loan can be foun...

Suicide Lifeline Service Expanded to Full-Time, Wyoming-Based Coverage

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has announced that the state’s suicide lifeline services have been expanded and improved to offer full-time, Wyoming-based coverage 24 hours a day, every day. “Wyoming citizens experiencing a mental health crisis and potentially suicidal thoughts, can now be confident that on the other end of the line, they’re talking to someone who – as a fellow state resident – is familiar with our state and cares about our people,” the Governor said. While the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has been available via phone (1-800-273-TALK) for many years, calls from state residents before 2020 were answered b...

Upton Native Enters Class of 2026 Plebe Summer at the U.S. Naval Academy

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Aidan Coberly, a graduate of Upton High School was inducted into the Naval Academy Class of 2026 Thursday, June 30, and will begin six challenging weeks of basic midshipman training as part of Plebe Summer. Approximately 1,200 candidates are selected each year for the Academy's "plebe" or freshman class, and each student is required to participate in Plebe Summer. Last year the Naval Academy received over 16,000 applications for the Class of 2026. During this time, plebes have no access to television, movies, the internet or music, and restricted access to cell phones. They are only permitted to make three call...

UW’s Teacher-Mentor Corps Cohort to Improve Teacher Support, Retention

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

The University of Wyoming has welcomed the inaugural cohort of the Wyoming TeacherMentor Corps (WTMC), an initiative led by the UW College of Education. Two educators from Weston County selected from a strong pool of nominees to participate in the inaugural cohort of the WTMC were Kasi White from Upton who teaches first grade at Upton Elementary School in Weston County School District 7, and Kathleen Engle, who is an induction and mentor specialist in Weston County School District 1 in Newcastle. The WTMC is designed to foster teacher excellence by creating a network of Wyoming educators who can provide exper...

Attracting and Retaining Workers in Today's Challenging Market

Tuesday, July 05, 2022

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment has fallen to pre-pandemic levels, but that doesn’t mean the workforce is simply returning to normal. In March of 2022, a record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs, leaving 1.9 job openings for every unemployed worker. According to the Institute of Supply Management, filling positions in the manufacturing industry is particularly challenging. According to a recent survey by CNBC, fifty-two percent of all small business owners report trouble finding workers. It’s safe to say that for every employee who resigns, others are contemplating quitting. Read full article.

Station to Station

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Remember as a child trying to learn the difference between “electric” and “electronic,” two words separated only by that “ON” switch in the middle? Today — with a surge in EV demand and a shortage of semiconductors — they are the two most operative words in the automotive industry. How they twist together to alter the DNA of mobility is a story best told by an array of projects now flipping the “ON” switch. The billions of dollars in investment are coming in big chunks: Rivian’s $5 billion in Georgia; Mercedes’ 6 million sq. ft. in Alabama, Ford’s planned BlueOval meg...

Front Line: Performing Physical Tasks Remotely

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

One of the major societal effects of the Covid-19 pandemic — aka The Big Reset — has been rapid and widespread growth of remote work, as companies allow more employees to perform tasks from their homes…or elsewhere. The biggest shift has been among office-based businesses, which require fewer on-site workers doing physical tasks than manufacturing or supply chain operations require. But even in the latter categories, rapid advances in automation are enabling more workers to “go digital,” experts say. Read full article.

Advancing work in Upton

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

The Upton area is growing and so are workforce needs often found in such communities. Workforce advancement resources are now available to Upton employers and job seekers, including funding for internships, apprenticeships, career training and professional development. Job seekers have more opportunities to advance their careers, while employers have access to tools to develop a skilled workforce. “We want people to understand funding is available to help their businesses, and now is the time to access it,” said Shaye Moon, Business Training and Support Program Manager with the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS). This past February, the UEDB Board and Upto...

Virtual Town Hall highlights increased grant opportunities to help businesses upskill employees and hire apprentices

Monday, June 20, 2022

CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS) will be hosting a virtual town hall from 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, to provide more information about the increased funding limits for the DWS Workforce Development Training Fund grants and apprenticeship opportunities. Funding limits for Business Training Grants have been increased from $1,000 to $4,000, per trainee, per State Fiscal Year (SFY). For businesses in a preferred industry, the limit increased from $1,500 to $5,000, per trainee, per SFY. The total amount of funding a business can apply for per SFY has increased from $50,000 to $200,000, regardless of the numbe...

3 Ways to Empower Everyone to Lead (and How to Do It)

Monday, June 13, 2022

If you ask managers, directors and executives to name the leaders of their company, most would be expected to point to themselves. They are the group who carry the formal, assigned responsibilities of leadership. However, if you ask those same leaders to name people in the organization with the biggest influence over culture, the most institutional knowledge or the greatest level of trust from fellow employees — qualities associated with leadership — the answers will often not be the same. Read full article.

Community Support is Essential for Creating Housing Opportunities

Monday, June 06, 2022

Communities throughout the country are facing a housing crisis either due to a lack of housing units, as the result of prices skyrocketing past the level of affordability, or both. Solving this crisis requires creativity and the support of the entire community. As such, leaders who put forth policies without stakeholder support will find their proposals stalled while leaders who engage stakeholders from the very beginning will have partners willing to help bring about the necessary changes. Read full article.

How to Effectively Hire During the New Normal

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

The way businesses in the industrial sector approach hiring new employees has changed. Companies can no longer rely on posting a job ad and sitting back to wait for resumes to flood in. With unemployment rates at an all-time low after the advent of the Great Resignation, the best candidates are already employed. So how do you locate the best talent, and what are the best-recruiting tools? Internal recruitment, agency software, HR recruitment software, and recruitment service providers are just a few of the options available to you. Hiring Team-Focused Players in the New Normal How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed th...

Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Presentation of Incentives Information to the Media

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Companies receiving economic development incentives often have a great story to tell. The projects championed by those companies bring much needed jobs and investment to a local community. In exchange, the companies may receive various forms of economic development incentives, such as grants, tax credits, or loans. However, these incentives are not giveaways. Instead, the incentives are typically awarded on the condition that companies receiving them achieve certain metric commitments (i.e., jobs, payroll, and investment) to benefit the local community. Read full article.

The Evolution of the Megasite

Monday, May 23, 2022

Competing on a national and global scale for large economic development projects — and winning — is a sure sign of a community’s vitality. A community’s ability to position large-scale, shovel-ready land tracts for investment consideration exponentially increases its ability to secure desired jobs and capital investment at the local level. For years, there has been a traditional understanding of megasite requirements. Originally created to meet the demands of the automotive OEM and allied industries, these sites were assumed to have consistent demands. Important factors have included fully contiguous land space; multimodal transportation, including access to rail; large-scale and redundant utilit...

Wyoming Manufacturing Program Gets Funding Boost

Friday, May 20, 2022

The Federal government has announced an additional $3.5 million in funding for Wyoming's Manufacturing Works program. The fund is allocated to spread across five years, with $600,000 received annually over that time period. Funding was issued after a review of the program's successes in job creation, investments, and sales culminating from the program. Director Rocky Case stated in a University of Wyoming release that the additional funding, "confirms that Manufacturing Works is a valued resource for manufacturing in Wyoming and has demonstrated excellence in pursuit of improving the economic performance of Wyoming’s manufacturers." Read full article.

Legacy Wyoming industries eye emerging energy tech

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Many of Wyoming’s biggest players in the energy sector — including some coal, oil and gas companies — have begun investing in the novel technologies the state hopes to advance in an effort to secure their own economic prospects in the long run. Carbon capture, utilization and storage is the brightest beacon for coal and oil producers, many of which hope advancements in the coming years will prolong the life of coal plants and help reduce the transportation sector’s vast carbon footprint. Read full article.

Governor Gordon Named Chairman of a National Oil and Gas Commission

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon’s leadership and support in the areas of oil and gas was recognized this week when he was voted the next chair of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC). The Governor was officially nominated during a business session of the IOGCC on May 17. He will succeed the current chair, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, in October. Read full article.

Wyoming Entrepreneurs Welcomed to New University Program

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

The University of Wyoming has announced a program centered on Wyoming entrepreneurs beginning on June 17. The course, titled, Entrepreneurial Essentials (e2) is a collaboration between the University of Wyoming and Central Wyoming College. The e2 program seeks to help Wyoming business owners launch their business from the idea stage into fruition, with the end goal of businesses selling their products or services successfully. Read full article.

Getting Your First Rank One Position in Google: Everything You Need to Know

Sunday, May 15, 2022

Are you completely new to the world of search engine optimization (SEO)? Or, are you an old pro launching a new campaign? If so, you're going to be excited about the prospects of ranking first in Google for a given keyword or phrase. It's an important foundational achievement to set the stage for the rest of your strategic development. And, it has the potential to send significant organic traffic your way. Unfortunately, getting to rank number one isn't easy. And if you don't have much experience, it's going to be even more challenging. In this guide, I'll help you understand th...

May Perfect to Promote Upton Economic Growth

Wednesday, May 04, 2022

This May is an excellent time to recognize and focus on northeastern Wyoming’s entrepreneurs and small businesses. The Upton Economic Development Board exists to serve as stewards promoting, developing, and supporting a robust Greater Upton community. This month includes two recognition weeks for just that purpose - National Small Business Week (NSBW) from May 2-6 and 2022 National Economic Development Week from May 9 - 13. Small Business Week The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) holds NSBW in the first week of May each year. The small businesses started by entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of many communities, as evidenced by the fac...

Wyoming to Partner with Idaho National Laboratory on Advanced Energy and Related Technologies

Wednesday, May 04, 2022

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The State of Wyoming has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Batelle Energy Alliance, the operating contractor of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to collaborate in the research, development, demonstration and deployment of advanced energy technologies and approaches. The partnership will focus primarily on advanced nuclear technology; the nuclear fuel cycle; hydrogen production, transportation and consumption in industrial applications; and other advanced energy systems through a regional to global approach. The MOU also encourages cooperation to ensure training and education for workers in the uranium and nuclear industries. Read full article.

Governor Brings Wyoming Into Multi-State Effort to Address Healthcare Worker Shortage

Tuesday, May 03, 2022

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has announced that Wyoming will be one of 14 states participating in a collaborative project to address health workforce challenges, with a goal of growing and strengthening the state’s health care workforce. The Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce Learning Collaborative is a six-month project being launched by the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices. During the project, Governors’ offices and other senior state officials across health, education and workforce development agencies will join forces to develop innovative and evidence-based policies, programs, and practices to strengthen an enduring health care workforce. Read full article.

Jackson Hole Airport Recycling 90% Of Its Runway In Massive Replacement Project

Monday, May 02, 2022

Recycling cans? Sure. Recycling glass? Absolutely. Recycling an airport runway… wait, say again? The Jackson Hole Airport’s runway is in the process of being replaced, but because of the airport’s unique location inside a national park, the project’s environmental impact is at the top of mind for managers. Read full article.

Crunch Time in the Construction Industry

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

It’s no news that lingering supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures have forced project teams across the U.S. to shake up their procurement and delivery processes. The projects of today are rife with risk, as supplied materials’ lead times and pricing have proven to be no longer as reliable as in past years. Design-build has become an invaluable resource in the current environment, as earlier designs and contractor “onboarding” have become increasingly vital to keeping cost and time factors under control. Design-build gives project teams the flexibility they need for developing creative solutions and ensures proper alignment between the various member...

Governor Continues to Bolster Workforce and Help Job Seekers with New Tools

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

As part of his ongoing focus on education and workforce development, Governor Mark Gordon has launched a new dashboard that provides tools for job seekers, businesses and educators. The dashboard will provide users a greater understanding of what jobs are available in Wyoming; pathways through education to be able to qualify for in-demand jobs; the value of education and training; labor supply and demand; as well as growth potential for Wyoming industries both regionally and statewide. The tools are intended to support the goals of the state, and are a piece of the solution to addressing the challenges that Wyoming face...

Supply of Warehouse Space Yet to Meet Demand

Monday, April 25, 2022

We’ve all been affected by the disruptions of global supply chains in some way, especially those of us who operate within the industrial sector of the corporate real estate industry. On paper the industrial market is in an extremely strong place; vacancies are at all-time lows and rents have been growing consistently across the board — with big 30+ percent year-over-year spikes in some coastal port cities. Institutional money is flowing without an end in sight, users continue to fill existing space, and the appetite for new product has never been so large. This is a byproduct of a globa...

Wyoming’s senior population grows 40%

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Wyoming’s senior population grew by over 40% from 2010 to 2020 — the second-fastest rate in the nation, according to research from AginginPlace.org, an online resource hub for seniors. The group compared 2010 and 2020 demographic statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau to figure out how states’ age groups have changed. Read full article.

Governor’s Focus for Health Care Improvement in 2022 is on Emergency Medical Services

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Governor Gordon’s Health Task Force and the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) have been working on ideas for improvements to the delivery of health care in Wyoming. A major focus in the early months is on emergency medical services (EMS). The Legislature supported proposals brought forward to help stabilize the system and to pilot projects that regionalize the service to reduce costs and provide additional care. Since last year the Governor’s Health Task Force has been engaged in conversations to better understand EMS operations around the state. Regional EMS providers have struggled to sustain operations in recent years due to ...

Can We Remain Connected in an Ever-Changing Hybrid Environment?

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Hybrid and remote work has become a mainstay since 2020. While there is a desire to be back in the office, there’s also a desire to work from home on an ad-hoc basis. Despite negative perceptions of remote work, employees generally work just as effectively at home as they do in the office. This new trend toward an ongoing hybrid work environment allows much more flexibility in the schedules of many employees — but what about staying connected? As some employees may be entirely remote and others are coming into the office on varying days, it poses the challenge of trul...

Location, Location, Location: Where You Locate Your Startup Might Be As Important As The Timing

Friday, April 15, 2022

We all know the failure rate of startups: about 90% over five years. And we know Silicon Valley might still be the dominant location in the United States for starting technology companies. Perhaps that is due to the venture capitalists’ insistence that companies they fund be in or move to Silicon Valley. But as you consider the type of company you wish to start, you really should examine the importance of several factors outside of funding that could hedge your startup’s success. Where you locate your startup, even in the age of remote work, might actually be more critical tha...

Wyoming Small Business Person of the Year for 2022

Friday, April 15, 2022

Ahead of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration has announced this year’s Small Business Person of the Year winners – over 50 outstanding small business owners and entrepreneurs from across the United States, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Lena Dirck, owner of The Aspen House Restaurant, has been selected as Wyoming Small Business Person of the Year for 2022. The SBA Wyoming District Office, in partnership with the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, will conduct an awards ceremony and National Small Business Week celebration at The Aspen House Restaurant in Rawlins, Wyo. o...

Conrad named to Wyoming Economic Development Association

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Jon Conrad of Mountain View has been welcomed as the Wyoming Economic Development Association’s (WEDA) newest board member. WEDA was established in 1985 and is a nonprofit professional association representing nearly 200 economic development members and organizations who support economic development through their local groups. Conrad was chosen to fill the term of a retiring board member and provides a voice from southwest Wyoming on the board. WEDA Board Chair Phil Christopherson had worked with Conrad in the past and suggested his name for the position. Conrad was interested, submitted his resume and was chosen. Read full article.

Governor Gordon Appoints Two New Water Superintendents

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has appointed two new Water Superintendents. The Governor has appointed Josh Fredrickson as the new Water Division III Water Superintendent and Cory Rinehart as Water Division I Superintendent. Fredrickson replaces Loren Smith who retired after 19 years as Superintendent of Division III. Rinehart replaces Brian Pugsley who retired after 10 years as Superintendent of Division I. Read full article.

Rare Earths Crucial to Advancement of Green Economy, Defense Systems

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Rare earth elements (REE), which consist of a group of seventeen metals, are some of the most important minerals on earth that are used to manufacture several products key to the future of the modern world. Rare earths are used in the production of smartphones and semiconductors, both of which are expected see increased demand throughout the coming years as the world shifts online and becomes more and more reliant on technology. Read full article.

4 Common Beliefs Every Entrepreneur Should Question

Monday, April 11, 2022

Entrepreneurship is a tough road that can travel through some dark places. After some initial success, many entrepreneurs find themselves stuck and confused, in a place where they question who they are, where their business is going or when they’ll get there. Some are surrounded by self-imposed walls they’ve built to help deal with the grind of building a business. The walls are too high to climb over and too deep to burrow under. The only option is to knock them down. Mike Malatesta is an entrepreneur who found himself in what he calls the “valley of uncertainty” while running hi...

State Could See Economic Jump From Rare Earth Deposits In Northeastern Wyoming

Monday, April 11, 2022

Two companies are working to develop and process rare earth deposits in Wyoming in the face of escalating demand for the valuable elements. Wyoming Rare USA in late March began drilling in exploration of rare earth elements in Albany County west of Wheatland. In October, Rare Element Resources started working on a rare earths demonstration processing facility to be built in Upton. Read full article.

Field Tests of Coal-Derived Soil Amendments Yield Promising Results for UW Researchers

Friday, April 08, 2022

LARAMIE, Wyo. (Release) - University of Wyoming soil science researchers are conducting preliminary tests of a coal-derived soil amendment that so far is producing results similar to another popular soil amendment, biochar. The project is part of the Carbon Engineering Initiative in the UW School of Energy Resources’ Center for Carbon Capture and Conversion (CCCC). The CCCC is focused on supporting the future of Wyoming coal and creating nonenergy and fuel uses that create economic development and diversification opportunities. Read full article.

Carbon capture provides great potential for energy industry

Thursday, April 07, 2022

When we hear the name ‘Union Telephone Company’ we think about high-speed internet, mobile devices, and terms like ‘connectivity.’ But at Union, while our focus is on helping to connect Wyomingites from every corner of the state, we also focus on supporting economic growth and the development of industries of all kinds because when Wyoming grows and prospers, so do our local communities. Dating back to 1884 and the first oil and gas well drilled in Wyoming, our state’s rich history has been closely tied to the energy industry. This industry employs our friends and family by the thousands. Energy workers...

Megan Degenfelder announces campaign for 2022 Wyoming State Superintendent

Thursday, April 07, 2022

CASPER, Wyo. (Release) - Megan Degenfelder announced her candidacy for Wyoming’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction on Thursday, April 7. Degenfelder made the announcement in her hometown of Casper, WY at the Boys and Girls Club, alongside honorary campaign chairs, Judy Catchpole and Tucker Fagan. Degenfelder is a 6th generation Wyomingite and a product of Wyoming’s K-12 public school system and the University of Wyoming. She is a conservative business leader in the fields of coal and oil & gas and a former executive at the Wyoming Department of Education. Read full article.

Cowgirl Golf Wraps Up First Day of Wyoming Cowgirl Classic

Tuesday, April 05, 2022

The University of Wyoming Women's golf team kicked off the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic on Monday hosting the first two rounds of play at the AK-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Arizona. Freshman Kyla Wilde led the Cowgirls through the first two rounds of play finishing the day tied for eighth while the Cowgirls currently sit in 15th in the team standings. Wilde started the day strong posting a first round score of 72 (E) and followed that up with a second-round score of 74 (+2) to finish the day with a total of 146 (+2) putting herself in great positio...

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon seeking reelection

Tuesday, April 05, 2022

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon is seeking another four years in office. Gordon's announcement came Monday in a campaign video alongside first lady Jennie Gordon that touts his resume and calls him a “steady, principled conservative.” “A lifelong rancher and with years spent in the oil and gas business, he understands Wyoming’s economy,” the video says. “He knows main street and has started several businesses.” Read full article.

USDA Extends to May 11 the Application Deadline for Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program Funding

Friday, March 25, 2022

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the Department is extending to May 11, 2022, the application deadline for the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP), which provides funding to expand meat and poultry processing capacity. The decision to extend the deadline comes after Rural Development heard directly from applicants about challenges with System for Award Management (SAM) registration, which must be completed prior to filing an application. Read full article.

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