Business Council Board to meet March 5

The SLIB will make final decisions on BRC project requests at its 8 a.m. meeting on April 9. 

Business Committed

• Laramie County requests a $3 million grant and $3 million loan to build a 57,000 square-foot manufacturing facility to house WYTEC, LLC, a company that manufactures components of cages for rodents used in medical research. The project will retain 30 existing jobs and create another 48 jobs in the next five years. This funding will leverage $13 million in private capital investment. (Staff recommends funding as requested.)

Community Readiness

• Converse County requests a $3 million grant to install water and sewer infrastructure that will enable development of retail, restaurants, apartments, senior housing and single family housing in Douglas. The project will help the county and city meet future demand for workforce housing, attract new business and allow for development of future services like schools, medical facilities and public spaces. (Staff recommends funding as requested.)

   

• The Town of Sinclair requests a $1,915,000 grant to restore the Historic Sinclair Theatre. The project will restore a historic building for productive use by Sinclair and the surrounding communities, create a destination for visitors and provide locals a place to appreciate and enjoy the arts. (Staff recommends funding this project as a $500,000 Community Enhancement grant.)

Community Enhancement

• The Town of Hudson requests a $111,338 grant for the upgrade and renovation of playground equipment and a picnic shelter in the town-owned Svilar Park. A safe, comfortable public place for community members to gather contributes to “place attachment,” which leads to a healthier community. (Staff recommends funding as requested.)
• Niobrara County requests a $268,084 grant to upgrade and enhance the aging Niobrara County Fairgrounds Main Building. The renovations will ensure the facility is able to continue hosting events 325 days a year and may assist in drawing even more events to the community while lowering maintenance costs. (Staff recommends funding as requested.)

Planning

• The Town of Evansville requests a $35,000 economic development planning grant to hire a planning consultant to develop a Comprehensive Community Plan. The plan will be the basis for many decisions faced by the community, ranging from building new facilities and approving or denying development projects to pursuing infrastructure improvements and updating code and ordinance language. (Staff recommends funding up to the $35,000 request.)