About
As the state economic development agency, the Wyoming Business Council leads economic growth in order to build resilient communities and create opportunities for people to thrive.
Who We Are
With a wide breadth of experience in recruitment, development, and investment services, the Wyoming Business Council (WBC) works hard to create an economic framework so that Wyoming businesses and communities can thrive.
Created in 1998, the WBC is a team of passionate professionals with a Board of Directors consisting of 13 business leaders from across the state. Governor Mark Gordon serves as co-chair of the board. With experience ranging from Fortune 500 companies, community banks, local and state governments, non-profit entities, private businesses, and economic development organizations, our team brings a wealth of expertise and deep local knowledge to Wyoming’s economic and community development efforts.
Headquartered in Cheyenne with offices in Casper, Cody, Evanston, Laramie, Powell, Riverton, Sheridan, Torrington, and Wright.
Leading Economic Growth
Building Resilient Communities
Creating Opportunities to Thrive
Visionary architects
We are relentlessly focused on building a prosperous and sustainable economic landscape where every community and individual can thrive for generations to come. We are driven by a mission to reverse Wyoming’s economic decline and actively create boundless opportunities for YOU to stay or return to the Cowboy State.
We are the visionary architects of opportunity, empowering local leaders and businesses through strategic investment, proactive problem solving, and a collaborative Team of Thousands philosophy. We honor our rich heritage while boldly embracing innovation needed to ensure Wyoming’s long-term prosperity.
The Wyoming Business Council’s approach to economic development focuses on identifying problems and breaking down barriers obstructing a more resilient economy. Collaboratively, we test, adapt, and repeat the process to develop locally crafted solutions.
Building Wyoming's Future Together
We don’t view economic development as a series of isolated projects or a static plan; rather, we see it as a foundational, continuous process for architecting a stronger future for Wyoming. This is a fundamental shift in HOW we lead growth across the state. It is inherently action-oriented and driven by data, allowing us to identify and proactively dismantle barriers to prosperity.
Confronting Myths with Bold Hope
We are focused on identifying the deep-rooted policies and systematic limiting factors that are truly constraining our state and local economies. This is not about seeking short-term wins; it’s about pursuing sustainable opportunities that deliver long-term, systemic change and build true resilience. We are committed to myth-busting the idea that decline is inevitable, approaching our state’s challenges with palpable optimism and the courage for bold action. The truth is, the current structure of Wyoming’s economic activities cannot sustain a high quality of life for all parts of the state in the long run. We are confronting this complex problem head-on.
Locally Driven, Collaboratively Built
Our methodology, visualized through the Economic Growth Flywheel, is a grassroots process designed to empower you. It is a shared framework for community and state partners to identify challenges and test locally-crafted solutions. It targets specific, unique issues because strengthening Wyoming means starting from the ground up.
While the WBC is taking the lead on launching these efforts, this is not a WBC program; it’s about collaboration and building a “Team of Thousands.” We are capacity-builders, committed to working with you to unlock your community’s greatest potential.
Complex vs. Complicated Problems
Complicated Problems
These problems may be difficult issues or challenges but there is typically a consistent process and we can generally define the expected outcome or solution.
- For example, building a new airport isn’t an easy process; it is complicated, long, and fraught with unexpected twists and turns. However, we can map out and manage the process and in the end, we have an airport.
Complex Problems
These problems may have many possible solutions or paths forward. Much is unknown (or possibly unknowable) and variable and there may be no “right” answer or “right” process. In fact, we don’t ever really SOLVE complex problems, we can just manage them.
- Examples: Ending world hunger; Planning an investment portfolio; Exploring the ocean floor; Diversifying an economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Pathways to Prosperity? What problem are we trying to solve?
Wyoming has struggled to realize diverse, broad, and lasting growth. We have been working to diversify the economy for a number of years and want to understand why we haven’t met that goal. In order to do that, we need to understand the challenges at the local and state levels as well as the complexity of economic diversification. This methodology will help us tackle these issues and support local partners as they address their unique challenges and craft solutions.
How is this different from previous efforts?
This is a process and systems change for how we approach economic development in Wyoming. It is not just a “one and done” approach like a study or plan that may inform our direction for a set and finite amount of time. Rather, it is a permanent and long-term strategy for first identifying problems and working collaboratively to design solutions to address specific challenges. It is an iterative, cyclical process that can be applied to complex problems that do not have one simple solution.
Who else is involved in this work?
P2P is led by the Wyoming Business Council but is all about collaboration involving a variety of partners and stakeholders across the state. The Governor’s office, legislators, state partners and agencies, local businesses and organizations, economic/community development organizations, city and county officials, and other key groups are all integral to and involved in this work.
How will this impact smaller communities that represent a smaller sector of industries in the state?
This process of problem solving is applicable no matter the community size or industrial sector. The test>adapt>repeat methodology can be put into practice when addressing complex problems that may have multiple factors or potential solutions.
Where do we go from here? (Integration)
This is an ongoing process and we will continue to iterate to identify problems and address barriers to growth. Next steps include developing in-state training opportunities to educate partners on how to implement the process to address their unique local challenges. This process is also being shared through The Wyoming Academy curriculum as part of capacity-building activities.
What does this actually look like in practicality? (Impact)
This is a foundational shift and is HOW we do the work of economic development going forward. There may be some growing pains but we will continue to iterate and adapt as we implement this methodology in our various programs, investments, and policies across the state and locally.
WBC in the News
The State Loan and Investment Board meeting talks about the future of Wyoming investments
One of Wyoming’s biggest stumbling blocks that lawmakers and officials have to grapple with is state growth versus holding the status quo.
The State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) held a meeting at the Capitol on Thursday to discuss business investment infrastructure and Wyoming’s future.
Educational programming key to addressing economic development
Officials at the Wyoming Business Council offer a range of programs to diagnose barriers to economic development, developing solutions to move beyond those challenges on a community-by-community basis.
These supportive programs may be even more important in the next iteration for the Wyoming Business Council.
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Small business grant helps to boost Wyoming's economy
The Wyoming Business Council’s Kickstart Grant Program, helps to give a boost to local startups, with the ultimate goal of bolstering the state’s economy.
“We want to give them a little bit of a boost, a little bit of a kick, to get into the investment space,” said Faulkner.
Business Council approves local match requirement for BRC grant program
The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors has approved a rule change requiring that local communities contribute a 25% match for economic development projects funded by one of the state’s longstanding grant and loan programs.
The WBC board voted to make the change at a meeting in Sheridan Wednesday, but Gov. Mark Gordon has up to 75 days to sign the changes.
Sheridan 'a fantastic case study' in economic development
Sheridan’s economic development efforts over the last 20 years could serve as a model for other Wyoming communities.
A few community members reviewed successful economic development endeavors at the Wyoming Business Council’s work session Tuesday afternoon.
Proposal to address ‘nation’s worst workforce exodus’ fails to get support from Wyoming lawmakers
Motivated by glaring evidence that Wyoming stands at the precipice of a long-term economic decline, driven by a shrinking workforce, the Wyoming Business Council brought the Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee a proposal to help communities better attract and retain workers.
Wyoming is losing young people. Lawmakers are unclear how to fix it
People are leaving Wyoming at one of the highest rates in the country. This week, state lawmakers didn’t move forward one proposal to fix that.
Wyoming Business Council CEO Josh Dorrell spoke to the Legislature’s interim Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development committee on July 29 about what he calls Wyoming’s “chicken or the egg” problem.
Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake
WBC CEO Josh Dorrell recently discussed the BRC rule changes and the importance of public engagement on the Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake (interview begins at 3:43). Josh emphasized that gathering direct feedback is essential to aligning the rules with real community challenges. Leaders who commented provided valuable, on-the-ground insights into how our state can best support resilient communities.
Wyoming worker exodus threatens economic decline, business council says
Wyoming is experiencing a workforce exodus that will set the state on a long-term economic decline unless it grapples with how to enable communities to attract quality, knowledge-based jobs to compete with surrounding states, the Wyoming Business Council’s top officials say.
Lagging regions: what can policy-makers learn from Wyoming?
Despite an abundance of valuable raw materials and breathtaking natural beauty, the western US state of Wyoming lags its neighbours in terms of economic performance. This is largely due to a lack of substantial urban centres, driven in part by excessively restrictive regulations on housing.
Economic development commission develops strategic plan
During the two separate meetings of the Uinta County Economic Development Commission (UCEDC) in February and March, a strategic plan for 2024 was developed with the leadership of Kiley Ingersoll, regional director for the Wyoming Business Council. The commission needed to identify specific goals and create action steps to achieve them.
Q&A with Wyoming Business Council leader Josh Dorrell
Wyoming’s economic development agency is looking forward to the new year, with a focus on developing systems that will foster growth across the state.
Shoshoni fights housing shortage
The small hamlet of Shoshoni, Wyoming, has identified “attainable housing” as a major binding constraint and with help from the Wyoming Business Council they are working to address that challenge.
Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency chosen for Wyoming Blocks program pioneering downtown revitalization
The Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency (URA) is honored to announce its selection for the Wyoming Blocks Program, an innovative initiative by Wyoming Main Street/Wyoming Business Council. This transformative program aims to showcase the tangible results of the Main Street Approach by focusing efforts on a singular downtown block.
Thriving in Wyoming
WBC provides update and discusses business opportunities
On Dec. 5, during the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) Winter Roundup Convention and Trade Show held in Casper, Wyoming Business Council (WBC) Chief Executive Officer Josh Dorrell discussed future business opportunities in Wyoming.