WBC Board approves three BRC projects

The Wyoming Business Council (WBC) Board of Directors recommended three Business Ready Community (BRC) grant and loan funding requests during its regular quarterly meeting on Dec. 9. 

The City of Cheyenne requested a $2.2 million BRC Managed Data Center Cost Reduction grant to assist Microsoft in expanding their Cheyenne presence with a new data center that will store and process data. This project is intended to create a platform for economic growth, spur job creation, and help develop the technical ecosystem that exists in Laramie County. According to a release from the WBC, the board unanimously approved this request.

The board also approved two projects in the Town of Shoshoni. A $1.58 million Community Readiness grant to extend sewer infrastructure and a $25,000 BRC Planning grant to select a consulting firm to investigate the feasibility of a full-service hotel to be located in Shoshoni. The need for a hotel was identified in the Shoshoni 2021 Town Master Plan. Both of these were unanimously approved by the board. 

The board did not approve one BRC project brought before them at the virtual meeting. The Town of Jackson requested a Community Project grant of just under $53,000 to install 15 ski lift chairs, previously used at Snow King Resort, in various locations along Cache Street to connect the Jackson Town Square to the historic Snow King Resort. The board voted to approve staff recommendations against funding this application.

The board was also given updates on WBC foundational projects and the team’s efforts on Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon’s Drive and Thrive Strike Team, Challenge Loan reports, as well as updates from the various Business Council teams.

A meeting recording is available on the WBC’s YouTube channel. The board’s next quarterly meeting is tentatively scheduled for the week of Feb. 21, 2022, in Cheyenne.