East Central Wyoming

Converse County | Natrona County | Niobrara County | Platte County

Photo by Wyoming Office of Tourism

Business-Friendly Communities

Central Wyoming offers a powerful mix of industrial strength, logistics advantages, and business-friendly communities. Natrona County, home to Casper, serves as a regional hub for energy, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, with major players like Mesa Solutions, High Country Fabrication, and Wyoming Machinery Company alongside a growing small business and tech-forward ecosystem with Backwards Distilling Company, DISA Technologies, and Flowstate.

Converse County builds on its energy legacy with oil, gas, and wind developments and offers strategic Interstate 25 and rail access, while Platte and Niobrara counties offer ample industrial land and an agricultural base that supports value-added processing opportunities. Together, these counties offer an ideal combination of infrastructure, workforce readiness, and a supportive regulatory environment. With a central location, robust workforce training programs, and communities that prioritize growth, this region is primed for companies seeking long-term success and connectivity across the Mountain West.

Drew Dietrich

East Central Regional Director

Phone: 307-631-3517

Industry Clusters

Advanced Manufacturing
Agriculture
Energy
Healthcare

Education in Support of Local Business

Casper College serves as a vital component of the region’s economic development by cultivating a skilled workforce, forging strong ties with the business community, and nurturing entrepreneurship.

Success Stories

Backwards Distilling Company in Mills, WY

Backwards Distilling Company makes its products from grain to bottle at its distillery in Mills, and high-quality spirits await you at every sip in their Tasting Room in downtown Casper.

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Mesa Solutions in Evansville, WY

Mesa Solutions is under construction on a new 220,000-square-foot plant, backed by a $9 million state grant for public infrastructure supporting the project.

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Demographics

Total Regional Population: 105,191

Total Regional Labor Shed (within a 100-mile radius): 132,315

Source: Applied Geographic Solutions

Counties within the East Central Region

Transportation

East Central Wyoming benefits from a highly connected transportation network ideal for logistics, manufacturing, and energy industries. The region’s road and rail access is supported by continued investment in rural highway improvements and industrial access infrastructure— positioning East Central Wyoming as a strategic gateway between the Rockies and the Plains.

Interstates & Highways

Casper in Natrona County serves as a central hub, with Interstate 25 running north-south through the region.

Airports

Casper-Natrona County International Airport provides commercial flights to Denver International Airport and serves as the hub for the state’s Foreign Trade Zone.

Railways

Rail service via BNSF Railway and Union Pacific supports bulk transport for agriculture, minerals, and industrial goods, with key intermodal and transload facilities in Casper and Douglas.

Public Land

34% (4,898.5 square miles) of the total land in Northeast Wyoming is public.

Popular Activities

Blue ribbon fishing
Cross-country and downhill skiing
Mountain, road, and gravel biking
Whitewater Play Park in Casper

Tourism Hotspots

Glendo State Park: A 22,000-acre park featuring Glendo Reservoir with water-based recreation, 45 miles of trails for excellent hiking and biking.
Guernsey State Park: Located at Guernsey Reservoir, it provides more than 14 miles of restored trails and many other recreation opportunities.
Edness K. Wilkins State Park: A nature lover’s paradise, this 362-acre nature retreat is situated along the North Platte River.
State Historic Sites: Explore Fort Fetterman’s restored quarters, Register Cliff’s sandstone inscriptions from westward pioneers, and Independence Rock’s granite face etched with over 5,000 names of frontier travelers.