Cody & Meeteetse Seek Funds from Wyoming Business Council for Community Projects

Both Park County communities are hoping to receive Business Ready Community grants from the Wyoming Business Council, which would be used to spearhead significant projects in both communities.

On Thursday, Feb. 2, the Wyoming Business Council will present six Business Ready Community (B.R.C.) grant and loan requests to the State Loan and Investment Board. TB.R.C..C. grant and loan program provides financing for publicly owned infrastructure that serves the needs of businesses and promotes economic development within Wyoming communities.

Two Park County communities – Cody and Meeteetse – are on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting. If successful, both communities would get the funding needed for long-desired projects.

Both requests are classified as “community projects” based on the Wyoming Business Council’s application deadlines. According to the B.R.C. grant website, the program “assists communities that want to improve their aesthetic character or quality of life. Activities such as landscaping, recreational or convention facilities, and infrastructure to facilitate the start-up or expansion of a child care or senior care facility. These efforts must be documented through appropriate planning and show how the effort will make the community more attractive for business development.”

Based on this definition, Meeteetse appears to have a better chance of obtaining a grant for its recreation/community center than Cody’s expansion to an existing meat-processing facility.

Forward Cody received a $2.2 million grant from the Economic Development Administration to construct a 16,000-square-foot facility to expand Wyoming Legacy Meats in 2020. When completed, the facility will be Wyoming’s first U.S.D.A.-inspected slaughter facility in over four decades.

All six projects and their requested grant amounts are published below.

Town of Bar Nunn – Community Center/Town Hall

• Funds are requested to construct a community center that would provide a flexible gathering space with a kitchen for community events, various youth programs, and a space for recreation. The recreation portion of the building would include a large gymnasium, walking track and viewing area, and a weight/cardio room.
• $500,000 Community Project grant request

Meeteetse Joint Powers Board – Recreation District Community Center

• Funds are requested to construct a 6,600-square-foot community center that would include a fitness area, multicourt, rehab/therapy area, recreational area, and flexible gathering space that can be configured in multiple ways.
• $750,000 Community Project grant request

Town of Lyman – Elevated Living Assisted Living Facility

• Funds are requested to construct a 16,000-square-foot assisted living facility that would include 22 apartments, a complete kitchen, and a dining area.
• $1.5 million Business Committed grant and $1.5 million Business Committed loan request

Town of Glenrock – McGinley Manufacturing Expansion

• Funds are requested to construct an 8,400-square-foot facility and machinery equipment for the expansion of McGinley Manufacturing. The grant request aims to expand McGinley Manufacturing to include the aerospace and defense market.
• $2,997,294 Business Committed grant request

City of Cody – Wyoming Legacy Meats Processing Expansion

• Funds are requested to construct a 16,000-square-foot facility to expand Wyoming Legacy Meats. This facility would be located on a 7.6-acre parcel owned by Forward Cody and would enable the company to increase its processing from 50 heads a week to 100 heads a day.
• $1 million Business Committed grant and $926,288 Business Committed loan request

City of Laramie – Project Jupiter

• Funds are requested to construct an approximately 60,000-square-foot research and development facility for “Project Jupiter.” The facility would be built on 16.35 acres in the Cirrus Sky Technology Park, owned by the Laramie Chamber Business Alliance.
• $20 million Business Committed grant request

The meeting is open to the public and will convene in the Capitol Complex Auditorium, located on the lower level of the Capitol Complex and can be accessed via the Herschler Building at 122 W 25th Street in Cheyenne.

The meeting will also be streamed on the Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments website.