business images wyoming: 2009

Winds of Change Clean fuels spark business opportunity

Feeling Right At Home Entrepreneurs like the laid-back lifestyle

Innovation Lives HereState attracts knowledge-based enterprises

SPONSORED BY THE WYOMING BUSINESS COUNCIL | 2009

BUSINESS IMAGES

imageswyoming.com

Clean fuels spark business opportunity

WYOMINGWYOMINGTM

Cheyenne means Cheyenne LEADS assists expanding and relocating businesses in Laramie County

Cheyenne LEADS

Cheyenne is dedicated to a high quality of life and business environment

City of Cheyenne

With its specialty shops, unique restaurants, quality professional services and great events, downtown Cheyenne is the perfect place to kick back

Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority

The Cheyenne DDA:

Business

Cheyenne off ers a friendly attitude and relaxed western lifestyle that is perfect for work or play

Cheyenne Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

Cheyenne Area Convention and Visitors Bureau:

The Cheyenne community off ers many opportunities for shopping, entertainment and business

Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce

Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce is:

“Your BOTTOM LINE

Will Never Look Better.”

SouthwestWYOMING

Contact UsCITY OF EVANSTON

www.evanstonwy.org(307) 783-6300

UINTA COUNTYwww.uintacounty.com

(307) 783-0301

On the Cover PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

Wide-open spaces are a lifestyle draw in Wyoming.

OVERVIEW 15

BUSINESS ALMANAC 16

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Opportunity As Big As All Outdoors 20Wyoming’s favorable tax, regulatory structure breed investment, expansion.

TRANSPORTATION

Hub of Activity 24Roads, rail and air make Wyoming a natural for distribution.

Wings Over Wyoming 27

EDUCATION

Research Magnet 28University of Wyoming acts as educator, innovator for students, business, state.

Study Hard, Stay Home 29

Workforce Ready 31

HEALTH

Top Treatment 32Hospitals invest in technology, people to deliver the highest level of care.

Strong Network 33

LIVABILITY

Wyoming Welcomes You 34It’s a state with an inviting atmosphere, plentyof open spaces and all the creature comforts.

Proudly Made in Wyoming 38

Feeling Right at Home 39

ENERGY

Winds of Change 40Wyoming embraces clean-energy technology, one gust at a time.

Eco-Luxury 42

Cleaning Up Their Act 43

20

a natural for distribut

Wings Over Wyo

EDUCATION

Research MagUniversity of Wyomin

34

BUSINESS ALMA

BUSINESS CLIMAT

Opportunity AAs All Outdoo

27

40

TMBUSINESS IMAGESWYOMING

contents

W Y O M I N G I M A G E S W Y O M I N G . C O M 7

This magazine is printed entirely or in part on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

TECHNOLOGY

Innovation Lives Here 44Wyoming’s quality of life, resourcesattract and nurture knowledge enterprises.

Plugged In 45

Priming Tech Growth 47

FOOD & AGRICULTURE

Working the Land 48Beefed up by cattle business, agriculture breeds a major industry and identity.

Herb-an Renewal 51

A Sip of Wyoming 51

MANUFACTURING

Built for Success 52Favorable tax structure and a skilled workforceforge diversity in the manufacturing sector.

RECREATION

Room To Roam 54Modern explorers discover a world of outdoor adventure.

It’s Snow Issue 59

ARTS & CULTURE

Extended Stay 60A coordinated tourism effort brings visitorsto Wyoming and lengthens their stays.

Work of Arts 62

ECONOMIC PROFILE 6362

48

54

Working the Beefed up by cattle bbreeds a major indus

Herb-an Renewa

A Sip of Wyomin

51

contents


RED ROCK COMMERCIAL CENTER THERMOPOLIS, WYOMING

INFRASTRUCTURE SUMMARY

WELCOME TO THERMOPOLIS, WYOMINGLive Work Prosper

Each lot has the

and sewer

electric power

Landscaping

CONNECTIONS

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WYOMING

IMAGESWYOMING.com

WorkstyleA spotlight on innovative companies that

call Wyoming home

See the VideoOur award-winning photographers give you

a virtual peek inside Wyoming

NEWS AND NOTES >>

Get the Inside Scoop on the latest

developments in Wyoming from

our editors and business insiders

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS >>

Meet the people setting the pace

for Wyoming business

DIG DEEPER >>

Log into the community with links

to local Web sites and resources

to give you the big picture

of Wyoming

DATA CENTRAL >>

A by-the-numbers look at

doing business and living

in Wyoming

GUIDE TO SERVICES >>

Links to a cross section

of goods and services

in Wyoming

LifestyleA showcase for what drives Wyoming’s high

quality of life

An online resource at IMAGESWYOMING.com

TMBUSINESS IMAGESWYOMING

contents


Glenrock, WyomingWe Have What It Takes!

Progressive Business Climate

Abundant Alternate Energy Potential

Development Land Available

No Corporate Income Tax

No Individual Income Tax

No Intangibles Tax

No Inventory Tax

Low Sales/Use Tax

Access to Interstate and Rail

International Airport Availability

Redundant Fiber Optic

Population within 45 minutes is 75,000

Quality Education

Great Health Care

Big Enough to EnjoySmall Enough to Care

Community HighlightsSmall-town "FRIENDLY" atmosphere, parks, paths, fishing, hunting, golf course, recreation center, historic and dinosaur museums, historic trails and mountains

Glenrock Economic Development Corporation

TMBUSINESS IMAGESWYOMING2009 EDITION, VOLUME 1

C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A

MANAGING EDITOR BILL McMEEKIN

COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS

ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, JESSY YANCEY

ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER MATT BIGELOW

STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PAMELA COYLE,

RENEE ELDER. MICHAELA JACKSON, ROY MOORE,

JOE MORRIS, AMY STUMPFL

DATA MANAGER RANETTA SMITH

REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON

SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN MCCORD

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT,

ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ANNE WHITLOW

CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS

WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BRIAN SMITH

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS

ASSISTANT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER

PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS

MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER,

KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS

GRAPHIC DESIGN ERICA HINES, ALISON HUNTER,

JESSICA MANNER, JANINE MARYLAND,

AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER

WEB PROJECT MANAGERS ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ

WEB DESIGN LEAD FRANCO SCARAMUZZA

WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ

WEB PRODUCTION JENNIFER GRAVES

COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN

AD TRAFFIC MARCIA MILLAR, SARAH MILLER,

PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY

CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN

SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER

SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN

SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER

V.P./SALES HERB HARPER

V.P./SALES TODD POTTER

V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER

V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART

V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS

MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS

MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM

MANAGING EDITOR/CUSTOM KIM NEWSOM

MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY,

RICHIE FITZPATRICK, DIANA GUZMAN,

MARIA MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS

RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP

COMMUNITY PROMOTION DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR

YANCEY TURTURICE

NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR JAMES SCOLLARD

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

CUSTOM/TRAVEL SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN

OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM

RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

Wyoming Business Images is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Wyoming Business Council. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Wyoming Business Council 214 W. 15th St. • Cheyenne, WY 82002Phone: (307) 777-2800 • Fax: (307) 777-2838www.wyomingbusiness.org

VISIT WYOMING BUSINESS IMAGES ONLINE AT IMAGESWYOMING.COM

©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

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Pine BluffsMountain View

Hanna

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Burns

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Albin

La Grange

Chugwater

Elk Mountain

Rock River

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Cokeville

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Lost Springs

Marbleton

HudsonThayne

ShoshoniPavillion

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Burlington

HulettClearmont

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Riverton

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Sheridan

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Cheyenne

Wyoming offers a bounty

of advantages for business

relocation and expansion,

unparalleled natural assets and

a quality of life that gives you

the freedom to work where

you want to live.

Though it is a state of wide-open

spaces, Wyoming boasts a

superior transportation system,

cutting-edge health providers,

communities with the latest

technological and

communications infrastructure

and renowned educational assets

including the University of

Wyoming and a statewide

network of community colleges.

Among Wyoming’s key benefits

is a highly advantageous tax

structure. Wyoming does not

have corporate, inventory or

personal income taxes. Besides

allowing business owners to enjoy

higher earnings, the lack of an

individual income tax contributes

to the state’s lower cost of labor.

Wyoming has ranked No. 1 for

business-friendly taxation on the

Tax Foundation’s State Business

Tax Climate Index every year

from 2003 to 2008.

According to the Wyoming

Taxpayers Association, Wyoming’s

personal tax burden is the second

lowest in the nation and its

property taxes are among the

lowest in the country.

Wyoming’s quality of life allows

you to be part of a crowd only

when you want to be and its

residents enjoy freedom from

high crime, the pressures of big

cities, traffic jams, and noise and

air pollution. The New West of

Wyoming offers you the freedom

to grow and thrive.

The Western spirit thrives to

this day in the Cowboy State.

From its broad high plains to

its soaring mountains, from its

storied past on the frontier to

its role in the ancient histories

of native peoples.

Wyoming is often called the first

state in outdoor America. From

the thrill seeker to the nature

lover, Wyoming has something

to please everyone, including

two fantastic national parks and

a dozen state parks.

The aesthetic scenery and

numerous recreational

opportunities make Wyoming the

best place in the United States in

which to live.

WYOMING: A GOOD PLACE FOR BUSINESS AND AN EVEN BETTER PLACE TO LIVE


overview

HORSE SENSEFor a flavor of the Old West, visit King’s Saddlery in Sheridan,

a Western tack store that offers a large inventory of saddles, ropes,

bridles, bits, headstalls, roping equipment, barrel racing equipment,

saddle bags, saddle blankets and slickers.

The store offers gift items, including jewelry, dishes, frames,

knickknacks, and horse-related instructional videos and books.

The Don King Western Museum on site includes extensive memorabilia

and Native American art. The museum is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Saturday. Visit www.kingssaddlery.com for more.

THIS PLACE IS ELECTRICThe Jim Bridger Power Plant

outside Rock Springs is one

of the largest coal-fired power

plants in the United States.

The facility supplies energy to

six Western states and more

than 1 million PacifiCorp and

Idaho Power customers. Near

the plant is the Jim Bridger

Coal Mine, and the close

proximity of the mine and

plant reduces coal production

and transportation costs.

The power plant opened in

1974 and today has 350

employees. The mine employs

another 325. The combined

annual payroll for the plant

and mine is approximately

$40 million.

WHAT THE DEVIL?The nation’s first national monument has a connection to Wyoming.

Devils Tower is a stump-shaped cluster of rock columns that

was proclaimed a national monument by President Theodore

Roosevelt on Sept. 24, 1906. It is 28 miles northwest of

Sundance, near the Belle Fourche River.

Hiking and climbing are popular activities around the tower,

which rises nearly 1,300 feet above the river. It’s made the

silver screen, as well, as the site where the spaceship landed

in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind and

approximately a dozen cultural programs are scheduled

at Devils Tower during the warm weather months of May

through September. Go to www.nps.gov/deto for more

on Devils Tower.


business almanac

ROAD SCHOLARSNot bad for 50 states.

Wyoming’s highway systems have been rated fourth best in the

nation, according to the Reason Foundation’s 17th annual report on

the Performance of State Highway Systems. Wyoming moved up from

seventh place in the foundation’s previous study.

The report calculates the effectiveness and performance of each

state in 12 different categories, including traffic fatalities, congestion,

pavement conditions, bridge conditions, highway maintenance costs

and administrative costs. The best highway system in the study was

in North Dakota and the worst was in New Jersey.

CAM-PLEX SITUATIONIt can accommodate just about

any occasion.

CAM-PLEX in Gillette is a

collection of several buildings

spread over 1,100 acres.

The center can host events

such as conventions, sports

exhibitions and performing

arts productions. The spacious

destination opened in 1985,

and its facilities include the

Heritage Center, Wyoming

Center, Energy Hall, Central

Pavilion, East Pavilion and

Morningside Park.

Events staged at CAM-PLEX

include the National High

School Finals Rodeo and a

weeklong international

fireworks competition. Go to

www.cam-plex.com for more.

ON TRACK EVERY HOURNext stop: Sheridan County.

The Historic Downtown Trolley takes

passengers on rides every hour during

daylight to view the many attractions

of Sheridan. There is a continuous historic

narrative on every ride, and tickets cost

only $1.

The trolley system has been a part of Sheridan

since the early 1900s, and the current trolley

was built in 2000. Besides hourly rides, the

trolley can be chartered for class reunions,

birthday parties or wedding parties.


WHERE THEY ROAMHad a buffalo burger lately? What about

an elk sandwich?

The Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Co. has

specialized in buffalo and elk meat products

for more than 60 years. It was established in

1947 as the Jackson Cold Storage Co. and

has been on a growth binge ever since.

The company has a retail store in Jackson

Hole and sells most of its products online.

The buffalo graze on open range grasslands

until the last 60 days, when they are corn

fed to increase tenderness and arrive at a

sweet, rich flavor. For more on the company,

go to www.jhbuffalomeat.com.

SALUTE TO THE MENTORB&G Industries Aircraft Operations in Greybull is the first Wyoming

company to enter into the Army’s Mentor-Protégé program.

The program involves the Army (mentor) pairing with small businesses

(protégé) to establish a stable vendor base. This allows companies

across the United States to compete for contracts that could not be

performed entirely by the Army itself.

B&G Industries provides commercial and military aircraft repair as

well as manufacturing and precision machine shop services.

Go to www.bgiaviation.com to learn more about B&G.

SPEAKENG IN KOREAA program that teaches

English to children in foreign

countries has a connection

with Wyoming.

Eleutian Technologies in Ten

Sleep has partnered with

Incheon, a city in South Korea,

to develop a SpeakENG

program throughout that

country. Some 1,000 teachers

were projected to be involved

with the program by the

beginning of 2009.

SpeakENG students schedule

convenient online video classes

with certified native English-

speaking teachers. Part of the

program involves volunteer

English-speaking people

having conversations over the

Internet with foreign students,

to improve their fluency.

To learn more, go to

www.eleutian.com.


business almanac

Opportunity As Big As All

OutdoorsWyoming’s favorable tax, regulatory structure breed investment, expansion

ScorecardWYOMING BY THE NUMBERS

288,100Total public- and private-sector nonfarm employment, up 28.3 percent since 1997

$779Average weekly wage in Wyoming

206,136Total number of households in 2007, up 6.5 percent since 2000

$47,038Wyoming per-capita personal income in 2007, No. 4 in the nation among states and up 100.9 percent since 1997


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Lawmakers at the capital in Cheyenne have created a business-friendly tax structure. PHOTO BY BRIAN M C CORD Above: The minerals industry contributes $4.5 billion to Wyoming each year, money that helps fund infrastructure and business enhancements.

F rom physical space for expan-sion to a tax structure that’s the envy of other states, Wyoming

is fast becoming a relocation destination for a range of industry sectors while simultaneously growing its existing business base at a brisk clip.

The state’s mineral extraction industry totes most of the tax freight, allowing for no personal income tax, no corporate income taxes and no taxes on inven-tories. Add to that educational assets such as the University of Wyoming and seven community colleges, high-quality health care, an integrated transportation network and spectacular natural beauty and it’s easy to see why Wyoming’s star is rising.

“With no corporate income tax, very competitive property taxes and a low overall state tax structure, this is a very good place to do business,” says Robert Jensen, chief executive officer of the Wyoming Business Council.

The state’s private-sector employment stood at more than 220,000 in 2007, up

a stout 50 percent since 1990. Per-capita personal income rose to more than $43,000 in 2007, growing 84 percent in 10 years.

The mineral industry generates around $4.5 billion a year for the state, money plowed back into statewide infrastruc-ture and for a variety of amenities that enhance quality of life in each of the state’s 23 counties.

In the last f ive years, more than $100 million has been invested in new business parks, expansion of existing parks and funding to communities to boost business growth, Jensen says.

“Communities also have received funds for everything from day-care centers to recreational amenities, so it’s not all going just for business concerns,” he says.

Research and development play a vital role in the state’s industry portfolio. BPI Labs, which formulates, manufactures and fills personal-care products for the health-and-beauty sector, was drawn by a more inviting atmosphere for business.

“We’re extremely busy these days,” says Kenneth Shirley, president of BPI Labs, who moved his outfit to Evanston in 1995 after finding the regulatory

“The climate in Wyoming is exceptional

in that I have much more freedom to

do what I need to do.”


business climate

climate in California too oppressive. “The climate in Wyoming is exceptional in that I have much more freedom to do what I need to do, more access to community leaders and an ability to get things done.”

BPI is in discussions about building a new facility, having twice expanded its current 31,000-square-foot plant.

“We need a new facility that’s between 30,000 and 50,000 square feet, but much better organized than what we have here. And the city is working with us to find just the right location,” Shirley says.

The state’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, with Wyoming seeing invest-ment and expansion from a cross-section of industries.

The active minerals and mining sector has fueled growth for companies such as L&H Industrial, an after-market supplier based in Gillette. Since its founding in 1964, L&H has grown to establish a worldwide distribution and service network.

Older companies have evolved and grown. WOTCO, founded in 1938 as a machining support center for its parent company in Laramie, has seen steady growth over the decades and now produces its custom-designed metal fabrications and wear materials for the construction and mining industries at a 165,000-square-foot facility.

Such growth is hardly surprising to Jensen, who says he hears similar stories from around Wyoming, all testament to state and local officials working together to retain and grow their business base.

“Existing businesses that want to grow, new businesses that want to locate in the state, we can help them all,” he says. “We can take a look at what their needs are, how their business fits the asset base of the state, and then we can help them by bringing all the right people to the table to make it work.”

– Joe Morris

Wyoming’s pro-business government, unparalleled natural beauty and lifestyle options are drawing new residents and new enterprises.P

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business climate

Roads, rail and air make Wyoming a distribution natural

When it comes to moving merchandise, Wyoming’s got the goods.

Interstate 25 is a north-south corridor that links Casper, Cheyenne, Denver and Albuquerque and provides perfect access to the Southwest.

Interstate 80 is straight shot to lucrative Midwest markets; to the east are Utah, Nevada and California. In the north, Interstate 90 takes care of the Northwest and upper Midwest.

The state has 10 commercial service airports, and the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe have lines that crisscross Wyoming.

According to state figures, the number of people employed in the transporta-

tion-distribution sector skyrocketed almost 50 percent from 2000 to 2008. Transportation and warehousing together are Wyoming’s fastest-growing industry.

Wal-Mart’s distribution facility in Cheyenne serves three states. Lowes anted up $70 million for its distribution center, also in Cheyenne, which supplies stores within 600 miles.

Granite Peak Development LLC has two rail parks in the works, including Cole Creek Industrial Park, 72 acres in Evansville that has direct access to the Burlington Northern Line, says Bob West, company real estate director.

Evansville received a nearly $1 million grant from the Wyoming Business Council for rail spurs, water, sewer and

roads as part of a recruitment package aimed at PolyPipe, one of the four largest makers of polyethylene pipe used in the oil and gas industries. The Texas-based manufacturer built a 35,000-square-foot facility.

I-25 and the Old Yellowstone Highway are in close proximity and rail access is immediate, West says.

The 700-acre C-Tran Rail Park, another Granite Peak project, will handle 12,000 rail cars a year, offloading their contents for distribution by truck or accepting goods on trucks to be transported by train. A similar “transloading” indus-trial park in Upton was dedicated in January 2008.

The state has no inventory tax, a key

ActivityHubof


Wyoming’s integrated system of interstates and major highways allows for efficient distribution for trucking.

“We are not moving out of here. This is home.”

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factor for distribution operations.Sierra Trading Post, a large catalog

and online closeout retailer, has called Wyoming home since 1992 when it moved from Reno and became the first tenant in Cheyenne’s business park.

The costs of doing business in Nevada “were really going up,” says Robin Jahnke, the company’s director of fulfill-ment and corporate services.

Today, Sierra Trading Post ships more than 2 million orders annually – 8 million pieces of merchandise, from outdoor sporting gear to clothing and shoes and, its latest line, housewares and gift items.

So many customers now shop online and want their merchandise yesterday that Sierra Trading Post fine-tuned its delivery methods and now puts orders

bound for the East Coast on trucks for UPS delivery out of Chicago.

The company looked at the feasibility of an eastern distribution center nearer those markets, but inventory issues and other complications scuttled the idea, Jahnke says.

“We are not moving out of here,” Jahnke says. “This is home.”

– Pamela Coyle


transportation

816 N. FederalRiverton, WY 82501

www.flyriverton.com

The Riverton Regional Airport is a year-round gateway to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in Northwest Wyoming, and serves Wind River County, Fremont County, the Wind River Indian Reservation and the communities of Dubois, Hudson, Lander, Riverton and Shoshoni.

Come here

to visit

Come back to stay

1401 Sheridan Ave., Ste. 203Cody, WY 82414

(307) 587-3136www.forwardcody.com


Cheyenne Regional Airportwww.cheyenneairport.com/

Gillette/Campbell County Airportwww.ccgov.net/departments/airport

Jackson Hole Airportwww.jacksonholeairport.com/

Laramie Regional Airportwww.laramieairport.com/

Natrona County International Airportwww.ifl ycasper.com

Riverton Regional Airportwww.fl yriverton.com/

Rock Springs - Sweetwater County Airportwww.rockspringsairport.com

Sheridan County Airportwww.sheridancountyairport.com

Worland Municipal Airportwww.cityofworland.org/airport

Yellowstone Regional Airportwww.fl yyra.com

More Insight WYOMING’S COMMERCIAL SERVICE AIRPORTS

Airports cover the state, keep businesses connected

T a l k ing about a irpor ts in Wyoming is like talking about rodeos in Texas: they’re all over

the place.More than three dozen airports cover

the state, 10 of which offer commercial passenger service.

“That’s a large volume. When you consider there are only about 500,000 people in the state, to have 10 commercial airports is rather large,” says David Haring, manager of the Cheyenne Regional Airport and president of the Wyoming Airport Operators Association. “We’ve got commercial airports in all corners and in the center of the state.”

That spells ease of travel and the ability to move products for business. The state’s comprehensive air network makes Wyoming an ideal home base for distribution operations.

The state government has been gen-erous in providing money to keep local airports in top form. Several years ago, the Air Service Enhancement Program was created to allocate $3 million to communities for air service system development.

“Wyoming is more supportive from a dollar perspective and a support perspective of aviation than almost any other state in the nation,” Haring says. “When you have that kind of support, it’s easy to be progressive when it comes to trying to develop aviation systems.”

Cheyenne is home to Great Lakes Airlines, a national commercial service provider that is currently expanding.

“When you have a company like that, that is well established and is relied upon really by the nation to provide air service to communities that are smaller,” says Haring, “to have them headquartered in the state of Wyoming is a tremendous benefit to us.”

– Michaela Jackson Wyoming is home to some three dozen airports, 10 that offer commercial service.

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transportation

At the University of Wyoming, the emphasis is on research and development, with some

groundbreaking results.In 2007, a record-setting $78 million

in outside money found its way to the university, a figure made all the more noteworthy by what types of research it doesn’t include: funding from the National Institutes of Health.

“We don’t have a medical school,” says Dr. William Gern, vice president of research and economic development. “This is research that’s being done in the fundamental sciences, in education, engi-neering, technology and mathematics.

“Last year was the 22nd year in a row we set a funding record, and that’s not by accident,” Gern says. “We are focused as an institution on research, and we hire very high-quality faculty, people able to compete at the national level for these funds. That competition is stiff, and our faculty express their

Research MagnetUniversity of Wyoming is innovation asset

The University of Wyoming in Laramie provides assistance and resources to businesses across the state.


education

Study Hard, Stay HomeSCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ASSISTS STATE’S COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS

Since 2006, Wyoming’s Hathaway Merit Scholarship program

has given up to $1,600 per semester to students who meet some

specific requirements. The money has to be used at a higher-

education institution within the state, and there are four levels

of scholarships, each with its own eligibility requirements. (Go

to www.k12.wy.us/Hathaway.asp for more on the program.)

“When oil prices went high, the state began to capture a lot of

money from the oil and gas industry and put that aside into a trust

account,” says Sean Moore, a Hathaway Scholarship consultant.

“They created the program from the interest from that account,

which is around $13 million per year.”

Around 1,800 students took advantage of the funds during that

first year, a number that rose during 2007. Although the program

is new, it’s having the desired effect of keeping the state’s young

talent at home, says Julie Magee, Hathaway Scholarship consultant.

To be eligible, students had to have graduated from high school,

gotten their GED or been home-schooled in Wyoming. The scholar-

ships have to be used at one of the state’s seven community colleges

or the University of Wyoming. “Admissions are higher than ever for

incoming freshmen,” Magee says.

Specific GPAs and ACT scores are required, and the stair-step levels

of the program ensure that money is available for students at varying

stages of academic development, a point that Magee and Moore bring

home as they tour the state talking with parents, students and school

district officials.

“The school districts are having some growing pains because

they have to offer specific curricula that’s required to qualify for the

scholarships,” Moore says. “It’s college-prep curricula, but this really

is a great opportunity.” – Joe Morris

competitiveness by winning awards.”The university maintains a close

working relationship with the state’s community college network, with some shared programs and funding for specific areas of study.

The university works with those schools to increase the state’s pipeline of students interested in biomedical research, science, engineering, technol-ogy and math, Gern says.

The university also has established cooperative extension offices in each of the state’s 23 counties, focusing on agricultural education as well as research that eventually can be transferred to the market. That bent toward commercial applications for research also has led the university to establish ties with organizations such as the Wyoming Business Council.

The university runs a series of out-reach programs in tandem with a single entity in state government to bring services to business.

University undertakings include a small business development center, a manufacturing extension apprentice-ship, and Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technol-ogy Transfer Initiative programs, the latter an investment of more than $2.1 million annually.

“For that, we partnered with the Wyoming Business Council to develop a program to help Wyoming entrepreneurs and innovators access funds within that program to bring their products to market,” Gern says.

The two entities created the Wyoming Research Products Center, which serves as the university’s tech-transfer hub.

The university-backed Wyoming Market Research Center works with the business council to provide data and other research often shared with companies making relocation or expan-sion decisions.

“Everyone at these centers is cross-trained, and so we work as a unique, single economic-development entity,” he says. “At the end of the day, we all have the same goal in mind – helping businesses succeed.”

– Joe Morris

A Wyoming scholarship program provides up to $1,600 per semesterto students who enroll in a higher-education institution in the state.

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Marty Knaub, Branch President

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WYOMING’S COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Casper Collegewww.caspercollege.edu

Central Wyoming Collegewww.cwc.edu

Eastern Wyoming Collegewww.ewc.wy.edu

Laramie County Community Collegewww.lccc.wy.edu

Northwest Collegewww.communitycolleges.wy.edu/northwest.asp

Northern Wyoming Community College Districtwww.sheridan.edu

Western Wyoming Community Collegewww.wwcc.wy.edu

More Insight

Community colleges fill skills-training role

W yoming’s community colleges and vocational training centers play a key role in providing the state with

a skilled and work-ready labor pool.Dr. Jim Rose, executive director of the

Wyoming Community College Commission, says the colleges are tuned to the needs of their communities and have four distinct missions:1. Provide academic degree programs that

prepare students for entry into careers or transfer to baccalaureate programs

2. Workforce and occupational preparation3. Remedial education for adults4. Community-enrichment programs

“Everything from square dancing to crafts,” Rose says.

The state has seven community colleges, but the system ties into other two-year institutions as well as the University of Wyoming, creating a seamless network that offers everything from workforce-development programs to two-year degrees transferable to four-year institutions.

The state also benefits from specialized institutions such as WyoTech, which offers diploma programs in the automotive, diesel, motorcycle, HVAC, watercraft and collision/ref inishing industries, and the Wyoming

Contractors Association’s McMurry Training Center, which offers training for the construction and energy industries, working with employers from around the state.

“We split our training between the energy industry and our contractors, but right now a lot is focused on the energy industry and the drilling rigs,” says Bruce Brown, general manager at the McMurry center. “We’re doing commercial driving and heavy equipment operator training, welding and apprenticeship programs for our contractor members.”

Off-season safety training is another big focus for the McMurry center, which can devise a program to meet a specialized need in a short window of time.

The state’s community-college system numbers some 24,000 students, more than half of whom are part time.

“The unique role of the community college is that we provide a bridge to either a career path or just an enrichment opportunity,” Rose says. “We’re also the point of introduction to higher education for people who have, for a whole variety of reasons, not been able to pull up and move to a town with a four-year university.”

– Joe Morris

Workforce Ready

Central Wyoming College in Riverton is one of a network of community colleges that cover the state.

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education

T he inf lux of newcomers to Wyoming has made the state’s hospitals more nimble.

To handle higher admissions, Wyoming’s hospitals have upgraded their care and recruited specialists. Lacking the market base hospitals in larger states draw on, care providers rely on greater efficiency and outside funding sources to stay in the black.

Through these efforts, Wyoming’s hospitals are an economic force, with 26 acute-care hospitals employing 8,800 workers. Another 15,000 jobs are related to the hospital industry, creating an annual economic impact of more than $1.45 billion.

More important, the hospitals offer programs and services that compare favorably to hospitals in larger locales. Part of that success stems from having physicians and boards of directors fully supportive of quality initiatives, says Trudy Chittick, CEO of Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital in Thermopolis.

Chittick’s hospital, for example,

purchased a 64-slice CT scanner, fully digital mammography technology and a 3-D ultrasound unit that gives patients the same quality of care they’d receive in more urban facilities.

The investments allow Hot Springs to serve the needs of its region, which has Wyoming’s highest concentration of older residents. Patients in the past had to leave town to see a physician, forcing them to spend money on hotels and other services outside the area.

With studies showing that patients perform better in familiar settings, Hot Springs officials wanted to keep these patients close to home. The CT scanner means that patients won’t need a cardiac catherization, lessening risk. It also delivers faster results than other tests, helping to ease the hospital’s busy emergency department.

Chittick hopes to replace the existing hospital, which dates back 50 years and has undergone some small renovations.

Such a project has already occurred at Star Valley Medical Center in Afton. CEO Steve Perry says when he arrived

Hospitals invest in technology, people to deliver high-quality careTop

TreatmentScorecardHEALTHY INDUSTRY

26Number of acute-care hospitals in Wyoming

8,800Total employment of Wyoming hospitals

15,000Jobs connected to hospitals in Wyoming

$1.45billionAnnual economic impact of Wyoming hospitals


health

Wyoming’s hospital systems have invested in technology and the recruitmentof top-level specialists to provide high-level care throughout the state.

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A StrongNetworkRURAL HOSPITALSMEET CARE NEED

The Wyoming Critical Access

Hospital Network helps rural

hospitals share resources and

improve their services.

An affiliate of the Wyoming

Hospital Association, the network

provides peer support and helps

with grant proposals and critical-

access status.

Of Wyoming’s 26 acute-care

hospitals, 14 – each with up to

25 beds – have been designated

since 2001 as critical access by

the federal government, which

entitles them to higher

reimbursements.

Peter Birkholz, CEO of North

Big Horn Hospital in Lovell and

president of the network, says

the designation is important as

a source of operating and

capital funds.

North Big Horn, for example,

is able to provide a range of

health services under one

roof, including CT, radiology,

laboratory, occupational

therapy and skilled nursing.

The Wyoming Health

Resources Network works to

address the recruitment needs

of hospitals. Started in 1995,

WHRN is a clearinghouse for

recruiting MDs and other

health-care professionals.

The network sources candi-

dates, handling initial screenings

and directing candidates to

available opportunities, says

Pennie Hunt, executive director.

The network has helped

place more than 160 physicians.

“We have the pulse of the

medical arena in Wyoming and

are much like the Match.com for

health professionals,” she says.

Go to www.whrn.org for more.

– Roy Moore

nearly a decade ago the existing facility was too small and inefficient. The next hospital is 55 miles away, meaning that patients must use Star Valley or travel across the state to another provider.

With strong community support, Star Valley opened a new hospital in July 2003. The new hospital was built adjacent to the old facility, which was transformed into physician offices. A long-term acute-care hospital was built next door, allowing people to move from building to building without going outside.

In addition to the bricks-and-mortar work, the hospital sought specialists to staff the hos pital. The first recruit was an ortho pedic surgeon, who was followed by a neurosurgeon, an ENT doctor and a pulmonologist.

Today, orthopedics has grown to include

multiple surgeons performing five to 10 knee replacements each month. “It takes some work and some time, but we have two or three things going for us. We’re in a beautiful and growing community and we’ve got a new hospital, which makes al l of the difference in the world,” Perry says.

– Roy Moore


Wyoming Welcomes YouAn inviting atmosphere, open spaces and all the creature comforts are part of the state’s draw


livability

W ith its stunning scenery, eye-popping natural assets and abundance of recrea-

tional opportunities, it’s easy to see why so many people are finding Wyoming an inviting place in which to make their home.

“People come to visit and want to move here,” says Penny Becker, exec-utive director of Sheridan Travel & Tourism in the state’s Northeast region.

“That’s what happened to us. We moved here from Minnesota 10 years ago, and loved it. It’s a beautiful area – we’re always out exploring.”

Situated in the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains, Sheridan is widely known for its natural beauty and hos-pitality. True West magazine recently named Sheridan the No. 1 Western City in America, based on its well-preserved history and heritage. Outdoor Life also

ranked the community No. 3 among its “Top 200 Towns for Outdoorsmen.”

Bighorn National Forest includes more than 1 million acres, Becker says, and the area boasts fishing, golf, snowmobiling and a bevy of historical sites. “There’s always something going on – whatever the season,” she says.

The same could be said for the Northwest region, which includes Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton

The Rocky Mountains rise above the trees in the Teton Wilderness Area in western Wyoming. PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS


National Park and the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. But along with its extraordinary landscape, this portion of the state offers an abun dance of cultural activities, says Heather Falk, tourism manager for Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce.

“The Grand Teton Music Festival is a popular event, plus we have two film festivals, Old West Days and many others,” she says. “But what makes our quality of life so special is the eclectic mix of people and personalities. A lot of people have relocated here from other parts of the country, and everyone is really friendly. It’s easy to make yourself at home.”

With its rugged countryside and rich history, Wyoming’s Central region also has a reputation for charming visitors and residents.

Today, the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center honors those who traveled the Oregon, Mormon, California and Pony Express trails in the 1800s through interactive exhibits and a multimedia presentation. Other notable stops include Fort Laramie National Historic Site and Independence Rock Historic Site.

Of course, the Central region also is known for outdoor adventure – from rock-climbing at Fremont Canyon to skiing at the Casper Nordic Center and Hogadon Downhill Ski Area.

Anchored by the North Platte River and the state capital of Cheyenne,

the Southeast area balances frontier traditions with an eye toward inno-vation. Every summer, visitors f lock to Cheyenne’s Frontier Days – a 10-day western celebration featuring a world-class rodeo, concerts and other activities. A major cultural center, Cheyenne is a beacon for performing artists and touring productions and is home to the renowned Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra.

Nearby Carbon County offers the best in outdoor fun, including every thing from fishing and rafting to snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Visitors also enjoy scenic drives and historic sites, such as the Grand Encampment Museum, which preserves the area’s unique timber, mining and agricultural roots.

The Southwest portion of Wyoming boasts a decidedly different landscape, marked by amazing rock formations, sand dunes and fossils.

“This area was once at the bottom of a lake, so fossils are everywhere,” says Jenissa Bartlett, executive director

of Sweetwater Travel & Tourism. “In fact, if you look at the base of White Mountain, you’ll see a layer of seashells.”

Covering roughly 10,000 square miles, Sweetwater County offers a wide range of year-round recreational activities – including Wild Horses Scenic Loop, Killpecker Sand Dunes and Flaming Gorge Country.

But Bartlett is quick to point out the region’s other assets. “There’s a lot to see and do, but we don’t have the hustle and bustle of bigger cities,” she says. “This a great place to raise a family, with good-paying jobs, and without the high taxes and stressful commute you find in other areas.

“A lot of visitors still think of Wyoming as the Wild West, and there is still a lot to see in that regard. But we’re very civilized,” she says with a laugh. “You can enjoy wide-open spaces and still have Starbucks and Home Depot and everything you might need.”

– Amy Stumpfl

“This a great place to raise a family,

with good-paying jobs, and without

the high taxes and stressful commute

you fi nd in other areas.”

Wyoming offers a bevy of spectacular natural resources that appeal to outdoor enthusiasts of all varieties. White-water rafting on the Snake River or catching a wave on the Lunch Counter Rapids near Jackson are just two of many activities residents and visitors enjoy.

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livability

ScorecardWIDE-OPEN WYOMING

522,830State population in 2007

5.4Population per square mile

37Median age in 2007

$47,423Median household incomein 2006, up 75 percent from 1990


Proudly Made in WyomingPROGRAM ASSISTSCOMPANIES WITHMARKETING, STRATEGY

Wyoming has long been known for its pioneering

spirit. That ingenuity carries over into the business

community as well, with a wide range of products

produced in the state.

And thanks to Wyoming First – a program

designed to showcase Wyoming products and

services – entrepreneurial residents can blaze a new

trail of business success.

Wyoming First is open to companies that

manufacture or add significant value to products in

Wyoming, says Annie Wood, senior marketing and

attraction specialist for the Wyoming Business

Council, which oversees the program.

“It’s very helpful in terms of marketing and

branding – especially for someone who may need

extra marketing assistance,” she says.

More than 300 businesses are members of the

program, with products ranging from food and

fashion to home décor and gift items.

Members pay just $35 for a two-year membership.

In exchange, they are allowed to use the “Bucking

Horse and Rider” logo stickers and tags on their

products. Members also receive advance notification

of marketing opportunities, as well as space on the

Wyoming First Web site at www.wyomingfirst.org.

“Many companies don’t have the money or the

expertise to create a Web site, so this is a good

option for them,” Wood says. “They also have the

opportunity to exhibit at various trade shows at a

reduced cost. That’s important for a small company

that’s just getting started.”

Of course, Wyoming First is in no way limited to

start-up firms.

“We have a number of well-established and

successful businesses,” Wood says. “Companies such

as Chugwater Chili and Gordon Signs have been

around for years, but they take a lot of pride in being

able to say their products are Wyoming made.”

– Amy Stumpfl

Wyoming First showcases products manufactured or that have significant value added to them in Wyoming.P

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Wyoming offers a lifestylethat suits entrepreneurs

F or years, people based their living arrangements around their jobs, often relocating to major

metropolitan areas in search of better opportunities.

But these days, many people are putting quality of life first, reclaiming their small-town roots and a more relaxed pace while creating big success.

Australia native Robin Wiltshire relocated to Wyoming in the 1980s, opening Turtle Ranch just outside of Dubois in the northwest corner of the state. A renowned animal trainer and film production professional, Wiltshire has worked with a host of big-name clients – including the Merrill Lynch bull and Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales.

Wiltshire works with all types of ani-mals, from horses and mules to cattle and

pigs. And thanks to his experience behind the camera, he also has built a reputation for scouting prime Wyoming locations for film production.

After working in Asia for more than 10 years, Kent Holiday decided it was time to return to the small-town lifestyle he enjoyed as a child. He also recognized the need for better and more efficient language and communication-skills training for those in non-English speak-ing countries. Holiday found that he could fulfill both dreams while visiting his in-laws in Ten Sleep, population 304.

Started in 2006, Eleutian Technology employs Wyoming-based certified teach-ers to teach conversational English to students living in Asia via high-speed videoconferencing technology.

From two teachers working in office

space donated by the local school, the company has grown to 250 teachers in nine Wyoming locations and one coming online in Utah, Holiday says.

“We’re able to recruit excellent teachers, and the fiber-optic network is world class,” he says. “Best of all, this is the kind of town where neighbors know each other, the kind of peaceful lifestyle people enjoyed in small towns 50 years ago.”

Holiday credits the company’s success with support of regional and state offi-cials, such as Gov. Dave Freudenthal, the Wyoming Business Council and Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.

“I feel so fortunate to be able to do what I love,” he says. “I run a global business, live in one of the most beautiful places in the world and provide jobs in rural America.” – Amy Stumpfl

at HomeSuccess Begins

Renowned animal-training expert Robin Wiltshire

started the Turtle Ranch in Dubois after coming to

Wyoming from Australia.PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS


livability

Winds of


energy

W yoming is at the forefront of clean-energy technology, ha r nessi ng abu nda nt

natural resources to provide power throughout the West.

“We have a pretty simple mission, and that’s to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy,” says Tom Fuller, manager of state energy programs for the Wyoming Business Council.

A state known for its rich oil and coal reserves, Wyoming is also well endowed with opportunities to generate low- or no-emission energy, as anyone who’s ever tried to fly a kite in the southeastern quadrant of the state can attest.

“Wind is renewable. And it’s highly renewable in Wyoming,” Fuller says.

The initiative to develop wind-power generation systems is rapidly maturing, as commercial wind farms sprout up across the state.

TransWest Express, with its parent company Anschutz Corp., plans to build a $3 billion, 900-mile-long high-voltage line that would allow 3,000 megawatts of wind energy generated in Wyoming to be shipped through the Southwest.

Another Anschutz affiliate, Power Company of Wyoming, plans a wind

ChangeWyoming embraces clean-energy technology, one gust at a time

Wind turbines like these off Interstate 80 just east of Evanston are helping to meet the state’s energy needs.J

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Eco-LuxuryHOTEL BLENDS THE GOOD LIFE WITH THE ‘GREEN LIFE’

Who says “lavish” and

“responsible” don’t belong in

the same sentence?

The 72-room luxury Hotel

Terra Jackson Hole in Wyoming

artfully proves environmental

stewardship can, and does, still

feel like splurging.

As one of only six LEED-

certified hotels in the country,

the Hotel Terra offsets 100

percent of its electric power use

with the purchase of renewable

resources, including solar,

geothermal and wind power.

“It is an urgent need,” says

Samantha Denney, corporate

director of marketing for the

Terra Resort Group.

The LEED Green Building

Rating System was developed

by the U.S. Green Building

Council and is the national

standard for environmentally

friendly buildings.

The hotel has adopted a

number of green-friendly

practices in its construction

and operations, everything

from 100 percent recycled

“eco shake” roof shingles to

low-volatile-organic carpets

and paint to state-of-the-art

HVAC, high-efficiency windows,

chemical-free cleaning and

laundry products, and high-

performance touch-screen

telephones to reduce guest

paper use.

“We hope to be a part of

a larger movement toward

sustainable travel and tourism,

and ultimately help influence

consumers’ buying decisions

through education and firsthand

experience with the possibilities

of sustainable luxury.”

– Michaela Jackson

facility in Carbon County that would generate 2,000 megawatts of electricity.

Rocky Mountain Power is aggres-sively working toward a wind-energy capability of 1,000-plus megawatts, with another 1,500 megawatts planned for the future. A typical home uses roughly 10 megawatt hours each year.

“While the cost of wind-energy resources has historically been higher than other more traditional forms of electric generation, pricing for wind resources has become more competitive in recent years and Rocky Mountain Power has been able to identify and pursue cost-effective wind resources we believe will benefit our customers,” says Jeff Hymas, spokesman for Rocky Mountain Power.

In mid-2008, the company’s only oper-ating wind project in Wyoming was Foote Creek Rim I near Arlington. The venture is co-owned with another company, and Rocky Mountain’s portion generates enough electricity to serve some 9,500 customers.

By the end of the year, five additional projects are expected to be online in Converse, Carbon and Albany counties.

The Wind Energy Research Center at the University of Wyoming is working to integrate the growing industry with educational initiatives, planting seeds

to grow the next generation of scientists and technicians.

“Equally important to our research mission is our work to train part of this workforce that’s going to help out, to make this industry go,” says Jonathan Naughton, center director. “We’re trying to go to the next level as the industry goes to the next level.”

Though wind is certainly a prominent face of Wyoming’s alternative energy drive, it is by no means the only avenue being pursued.

“Not just wind, but all alternative energies are looking more attractive,” Naughton says.

“Wind has made it to the point that it’s economically competitive, and that’s why it’s growing so rapidly. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be investing in these other technologies.”

In January 2008, Western Biomass Energy began producing cellulosic ethanol from the ponderosa pine of Eastern Wyoming. The $8 million facil-ity in Upton produces about 1.5 million gallons of ethanol each year.

Continued efforts to commercialize geothermal, geosource, hydro and solar energy are also under way.

“We have every kind of energy you can imagine in Wyoming,” Fuller says.


Wind energy generated in Wyoming would be sent to the Southwest as part of a plan by TransWest Express to build a $3 billion, 900-mile-long high-voltage line capable of transmitting 3,000 megawatts of power.

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energy

Coal-technology research is on the front burner

Beefing up on planet-friendly energy doesn’t have to mean pulling the plug entirely on

traditional resources such as coal.In a state rich in renewable resources

such as wind and less fashionable energy sources such as coal, the name of the game is keeping it clean.

Clean-coal technology is at the fore-front of the nationwide efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but the initiative is nowhere more front burner than in Wyoming. A multiple-pronged approach to the issue is taking shape across the state, bringing together players from the government, private industry and educational arenas.

One prominent clean coal partner-ship is the agreement between General Electric and the University of Wyoming to build a $100 million research facility to refine coal gasification technology, the process by which coal is converted to a product called synthesis gas. The synthesis gas can be burned in the same way as natural gas, and is a much more

efficient use of the coal.Both Wyoming and the nation are

rich in low-grade, high-moisture coal that is currently unsuitable for the gasification process, and researchers would like to create technology that works beyond this limitation.

“It’s designed to benefit Wyoming, but it’s also a key component to utilizing coal as part of the solution to our energy-security needs,” says Mark Northam, who is the director of the School of Energy Resources at the University of Wyoming. “It is the latest coal-based technology.”

DKRW Advanced Fuels is planning

a facility in Medicine Bow that will utilize gasification technology to produce syngas, as well as use coal-to-liquid technology to churn out 15,000 to 20,000 barrels of environmentally sensitive liquid coal each year.

The state also recently passed legisla-tion creating regulations for the capture and underground storage of carbon dioxide and other emissions created by coal-fired power plants. This practice of carbon sequestration, which is garnering attention nationwide, is one of the state government’s efforts to become a leader in Wyoming’s clean coal movement.


Cleaning Up Their Act

“It’s part of what we are going to need

to utilize coal as part of the solution to

our energy-security needs.”

Wyoming is at the forefront of research into clean-coal technology that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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HELPING HAND FOR SHARP MINDS

The Wyoming Research Products Center assists businesses and entrepreneurs with patents, trademarks, copyrights and licenses.

The center is a collaborative effort between the University of Wyoming Research Offi ce and Wyoming Business Council.

The center’s Web site is www.uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/RPC.

More Insight

Mobility Works Inc. President Cindy Johnson founded her Green River software company in 1999. The company develops scheduling and dispatching software that is used by transit systems around the world.

Wyoming attracts, nurturesknowledge-based businesses

Innovative and diverse technology companies are f lourishing in Wyoming, where the cost of living is low and the quality of life is high.

Delicate sensors that can detect the start of an avalanche are in place at three test sites, two on Teton Pass and one in Cotton Canyon, Utah.

Inter-Mountain Labs in Sheridan makes them and the software that receives their signals.

Mobility Works Inc., a Green River company also known as Mobilitat, provides software and support so nearly 100 rural communities can more efficiently schedule and route buses that serve older residents and those with disabilities.

Cheyenne is home to Green House Data, a wind-powered storage and hosting facility that is getting national and international attention.

Laramie is home to the Wyoming Technology Business Center, an incubator on the University of Wyoming campus.

Perhaps the roominess – Wyoming ranks 49th in population density, one notch above Alaska – helps creativity f low.

“It is a super cliché,” says Shawn Mills, Green House Data president. “We were sitting in a coffee shop talking about data centers and I said, ‘I don’t think there are any other green

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technology

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BUS WING SUBHEAD

Bus wing blurb copy bus wing blurb copy bus wing BUS WING BLURB HIGHLIGHT blurb copy bus wing blurb copy.

Plugged InCITY OPENS HIGH-SPEED NETWORK TO COMMUNITY

High-speed, fiber-optic cable runs to virtually

every home and business in Powell, a Northwest

Wyoming city of 5,500 people. Officials hope the

network, financed privately and not by taxpayer

dollars, becomes a model for rural communities.

Financing came from Global Leveraged Capital

Management, a private banking firm. TCTWest

provides the service. Residents don’t have to sign

up, but if they do, the equipment is in place and

they pay a monthly fee for access to extremely

high-speed Internet, telephone and TV services.

“It makes sure Powell is not disadvantaged in

any way and even has an advantage,” says Mayor

Scott Mangold.

The Powell initiative also dovetails with Wyoming

Equality Network, a $29 million effort to connect

all Wyoming public schools to high-speed

networks for better access to teaching resources,

including video feeds.

The city of Powell will own its network, though

the only public money involved was for erecting a

small building to house the electronics. A $125,000

consulting fee was refunded to Powell as part of

the arrangement.

Residents who opted out of the installation may

regret it. Hooking up after the fact could cost

$1,000, Mangold says.

– Pamela Coyle

A city effort allows high-speed, fiber-optic cable to run to virtually every home and business in Powell.

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data centers powered by renewable energy.’ ” Green House moved fast. Managed services came on line

in December 2007. Companies involved in everything from training to software to health care and education grabbed space in the first building in 2008. With buildout costs at $1,000 per square foot, Green House builds 2,000 square-foot data storage modules as demand dictates.

Necessity is the mother of invention may be another cliché, but the adage was the foundation for Mobilitat. President Cindy Johnson saw a gap in services when her daughter, who is disabled, could not get to a local learning center.

“All the health and human services are no good if you can’t get there,” Johnson says.

Now, nearly 100 rural transit systems use Mobilitat software, from one with a few buses in Georgia to a Maine system with a f leet of 120 vehicles all driven by volunteers.

When Hurricane Gustav’s remnants f looded Springfield, Ohio, and cut power in September 2008, Mobilitat transferred Springfield’s database to a transit system in Missouri. Dispatchers in Missouri directed Springfield’s f leet so customers didn’t miss important medical appointments.

A basic software starter kit costs $19,000, but Mobilitat in 2009 will launch a Web-based system for small paratransit agencies that will cost far less. The company also is working on allowing riders to book trips online and helping riders get across the state or the country using local transit systems.

Cotton Canyon has what is considered to be one of the country’s riskiest roads. It’s one of the spots where Inter-Mountain Labs has set up a sensor array that can detect infrasound, or audio energy that is below the frequency of normal hearing. Federal grants paid for research and prototype development, says Kevin Chartier, vice president.

Inter-Mountain started in 1979 providing water and soil analyses for the coal mining industry. Next came highly calibrated equipment for air monitoring, and the venture into avalanche detection has its roots in some of that work.

“Within a minute we have something that shows up on the computer screen and shows the path,” Chartier says.

Early avalanche detection helps agencies decide whether to close roads or set off explosives to mitigate potential damage and respond more quickly.

“We have been at this thing for nine years and we have a product,” he says. “It has taken that long.”

– Pamela Coyle

“All the health and human

services are no good if you

can’t get there.”


For more than years, Cheyenne Regional Airport has provided passenger service to southwestern Wyoming and surrounding communities. Our customers enjoy amenities such as free WIFI Internet access, rental cars, transportation to hotels and a first-class restaurant and lounge. Flying out of Cheyenne is still a convenient way to travel to the west and beyond.


Incubator, products center nurture innovative ideas

Happy Jack Software does nifty things with Web-based calen-dars that can keep families,

sports leagues, churches and social groups in the loop.

Firehole Technologies performs fault analyses of composite materials. Medicine Bow Technologies helps health-care facilities with integration of their clinical, finan cial and administrative information technology.

These enterprises are among the new technology firms under the same popular roof: the Wyoming Technology Business Center, an incubator on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie that opened in October 2006.

“There are a lot of neat companies here,” says Jon Benson, the center’s chief executive officer. “We are trying to get the clients to grow and be successful. We are full, which is a good thing, but you want to keep taking clients.”

A new tenant is Pronghorn Technol-ogies LLC, which has sensors that take continual measurements of chlorine in

water and has applications for nuclear submarines, commercial shipping and municipal water systems.

For companies such as Pronghorn that are close to taking a product to market, the center offers help in developing business models, identifying potential customers and working out pricing and delivery options.

For com panies that “graduate” to their own facilities, the technology center staff helps build their organizations. The center also reaches out to other companies with growing pains.

It’s got a good partner with the Wyoming Research Products Center, which is the university’s intellectual property arm but also, because of funding from the Wyoming Business

Council, provides free services such as trademark and patent research to inde-pendent inventors.

Director Davona Douglass says the list of private projects showcases Wyoming’s strength – outdoor recre-ation, natural products for pets and clothing, organic products, energy products, wind energy, tractor parts and new ways of plowing among them.

The products center also offers out-reach services and acts as a feeder for the business incubator.

“We help people build companies,” Benson says. “I need neat technology and people with fire in their bellies. (Douglass) helps steer us to those kind of folks.”

– Pamela Coyle

Priming Tech Growth

“I need neat technology and people

with fi re in their bellies.”

The Wyoming Technology Business Center is an incubator on the University of Wyoming campus.

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technology

LandBeefed up by cattle business, agriculture

breeds a major industry, identity

Working the


food & agriculture

For as long as he can remember, ranching has been Gordon Malm’s everyday reality.

He owns and operates Malm Ranch Co., a 600-head cattle ranch that has been in his family for five generations and counting.

“When I was old enough to know what was going on, they were just getting away from the horse era and they were still using wagons instead of tractors,” he says. “It’s been an important part of our lives, from my grandfather and my great-grandfather, on down to our children now.”

Malm’s family is one of many in Wyoming that has made its name – and living – in agriculture. The farming and ranching industry is vital to the state, both economically and culturally.

More than 9,200 farms and ranches operate across the state, occupying more than 34 million acres and generating more than $1 billion in receipts. Roughly three-fourths of that stems from the cattle and calf business. The industry is a stabilizing force in the economy, providing a steady source of employment and income, says Brett Moline, director of public and government affairs for the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation.

“On a per-dollar basis, agriculture will have the largest economic impact

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About three-quarters of the more than $1 billion in annual agriculture receipts in Wyoming come from the cattle and ranching sector.


An irrigation system creates a rainbow on a Sheridan farm. Agriculture is a mainstay of Wyoming’s economy. PHOTO BY BRIAN M C CORD

in the state,” he says.Behind only minerals, agriculture is

the second-largest industry in Wyoming, with a presence in each of the 23 coun-ties of the state.

“In addition to the direct economic impact that agriculture has on Wyoming, farmers and ranchers spend those dol-lars locally, allowing their money to circulate throughout the state,” says Cindy Garretson-Weibel, agribusiness director for the Wyoming Business Council.

Beyond the weighty financial inf lu-ence of the agriculture sector, farming and ranching holds a special place in the identity of Wyoming. Even the state’s first governor, Francis E. Warren, was a rancher.

“Wyoming is well known for its Western heritage,” Weibel says. “This culture is still alive and well in most Wyoming communities, from commu-nity brandings and barn dances to the bucking horse and rider that adorns the state’s license plate.”

Numerous programs are available to aid Wyoming farmers, providing resources for everything from inter-national marketing assistance and value-added product development to income diversification and leadership development. Agencies that offer assis-tance to farmers include the Wyoming Business Council, Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Services, Wyoming Department of Agriculture and Wyoming State Land Investment Board.

At the end of the day, though, much of the enormous agricultural machine that contributes so much to the state’s economy is made from dedicated fam-ilies like the Malms, who enjoy working the land, raising livestock and taking pride in what they produce.

“It’s an enjoyable way of life: you’re in the outdoors, not with the clutter and bustle of city life,” Malm says. “Ranching is the most important part of our daily lives and our economic situation, and the whole thing centers on agriculture.”


ScorecardWYOMING’S AG BUSINESS

9,200Number of farms and ranches in Wyoming

$1 billionAnnual farm revenues

75Percentage of revenues derived from livestock

34 millionAcres in Wyoming dedicated to agriculture


Goshen County may be a long way from Napa

Valley, but you wouldn’t know that to drive along

some of the roads that criss-cross the farmland.

The agrarian community is brimming with juicy

wine grapes, grown at nearly a dozen burgeoning

vineyards. Across the state, more than 20 growers

contribute to the fledgling industry.

Table Mountain Vineyards, the state’s largest

winery, started with 300 vines in 2001. Patrick

Zimmerer and his family were inspired after Patrick

wrote his senior thesis at the University of Wyoming

on the feasibility of growing grapes in Eastern

Wyoming and Western Nebraska.

“No one in our family has a ‘green thumb,’ and

honestly we had no idea how the vines would react

or adapt to our tough growing conditions,” says

Zimmerer, who is also president of the Wyoming

Grape and Wine Association.

Today, the Zimmerers have more than 11,000 plants

and a winery on 11 acres. Table Mountain also uses

grapes from other local vineyards to make its wine.

Rose Bebo and her husband planted their 5ive Star

Vineyard, like many of their friends have done, on

extra parcels of land on their farm. They supplement

their harvest with the grapes they sell to Table

Mountain Vineyards.

“In the last three or four years, there’ve been quite

a few vineyards popping up,” she says. “These

farmers have a little patch of ground here or there

that they want to do something with.”

Smaller vineyards like 5ive Star are the legs of the

local industry, Zimmerer says, supplying many of the

grapes that wineries like his use to produce wine.

“While we don’t claim to be the ‘Napa Valley’ of

Wyoming, we boast 100 percent Wyoming-made and

produced wines,” he says. “You truly taste Wyoming’s

growing conditions and enjoy a bit of ‘Wyoming

character’ in every sip.”


When you see nettles or dandelions or lavender

growing in your yard, health probably isn’t your first

thought. But maybe it should be.

Alternative medicines produced from plants have

established quite a following over the last several

thousand years or so, and Wyoming has access to

some of the highest-quality herbs available.

“The nice thing about living in Wyoming is that a

lot of these plants just grow wild here. Most people

would consider them weeds,” says Curtis Haderlie,

who owns Wind River Herbs and Haderlie Farms

in Thayne.

Wind River Herbs offers tinctures, or liquid herbal

extracts, along with salves and teas for ailments such

as muscle soreness and respiratory difficulties.

Alternative medicines are gaining ground in the

mainstream as people search for treatments that

have less impact on their bodies.

Surveys indicate that more than 50 percent of the

U.S. population uses some form of complementary

and alternative medicine, and sales of herbal

medicines now exceed $4 billion per year.

“More and more people are leaning toward herbs,”

says Karin Guernsey, co-owner of Elk Mountain Herbs

in Laramie. “People want them and doctors are

listening now, too.”

So next time you have a backache, before you

reach for the ibuprofen, consider the wealth of natural

healers available straight from the hills of Wyoming.


A Sip of Wyoming

Herb-an RenewalWYOMING BLOSSOMS WITH PROVIDERS OF ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES

Lavender is among the many plants used in health remedies.

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HWINE INDUSTRY IS TAKING ROOT


food & agriculture

Favorable tax structure, good workforceforge manufacturing-sector diversity

W hat Wyoming’s active man-ufacturing sector may lack in size, it more than makes

up for in diversity.A broad range of industries finds

the state a great place to do business. Wyoming is home to companies that make sport and utility aircraft, pack-aging material, hydraulic gate controls, aviation shields, heavy equipment, cabinetry and alternatives to wood fencing, among others.

Quality of life is a big draw. That was the reason behind Kennon Products’ move to Sheridan in 1989, five years after it started making the Kennon Sun Shield for planes in a small garage in California. Today, Kennon also makes tail covers, dust covers, wind spoilers and heat protection for the military.

John Boreczky, president of Byan Systems, set up shop in Lusk in 1990 because Lusk State Bank was the only lender willing to back his plan. Four years later, the Secret Service picked Byan Systems to install its hydraulic gate operators at the White House. The company has also worked at federal

banks and military installations.About six years ago, the company

built its own 9,000-square-foot facility with offices and assembly areas. “We had to. We had been growing,” Boreczky says. “We are still growing.”

Byan makes high-end gate controls for commercial and residential use. The company started with a few workers and now employs a dozen; most of them have stayed for at least five years.

Boreczky cites the absence of busi-ness and inventory taxes in Wyoming as a major advantage, and he’s not alone.

“We got rid of any taxes on new manufacturing equipment, and that

was the only roadblock remaining. We’ve got the lowest taxes in the country. It’s a lot easier to do business here than it was 20 years ago,” says Larry Stewart, director of Manufacturing Works, a not-for-profit organization that offers technical, marketing, engineering and financial consulting services.

According to figures from the state Department of Administration and Information, 3.5 percent of all Wyoming workers are in manufacturing, ranking the state 49th in percentage of workers in that sector. Energy and natural resources so dominate the economy – and the tax base – that Wyoming can be

“The resources available to me in

Wyoming I did not see in Kansas and

Colorado. The state has an interest in

diversifying its businesses.”

BuiltSuccess for


manufacturing

generous with its workforce development funds in efforts to diversify business.

Heartland BioComposites started research and development of sustainable wood alternatives in 1999 and began selling fencing, posts, decking and rails made from wheat straw and recycled plastic in 2006. Between 2007 and 2008, business doubled, says owner Heath Van Eaton.

He had looked at Kansas and Colorado, but Wyoming offered tax and energy advantages and a slew of willing part-ners. Heartland BioComposites received support from Torrington, the Goshen County Economic Development Corp., the Wyoming Business Council, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the University of Wyoming and the Wyoming Wheat Growers Association, among others.

“The resources available to me in Wyoming I did not see in Kansas and Colorado,” Van Eaton says. “The state has an interest in diversifying its busi-nesses. The economic incentives the state could offer us were unmatchable. As a startup you are looking for all the help you can get.” – Pamela Coyle

Ron Kensey, president of Kennon Products Inc., stands in front of the company’s aircraft cover facility in Sheridan, where the company moved in 1989. Top: A worker sews together an aircraft cover at Kennon Products.

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recreation

RoamRoomA wealth of wilderness, national

forests and historic sites – but only 500,000 residents –

means plenty of room for outdoor exploring in Wyoming.

The state’s environmental assets and low-density population make it possible to go fishing, rock climbing, horseback riding, hunting or sightseeing in splendid, unspoiled and sometimes very remote places.

“Our clientele comes from all over the United States,” says Michelle Sauerwein, who along with her husband, Carl, owns Boulder Basin Outfitters near Cody, which features excursions into the 2.4-million-acre Shoshone National Forest.

For more than a century, Wyoming has been a popular spot for guest, or “dude,” ranches, which continue to draw thousands of visitors each year.

But the roping and riding ranch expe-rience is just one of many options for adults and families seeking a Wild West experience.

If archery, f ly-fishing, hunting or horseback riding are on your must-do list, Sauerwein suggests one of Boulder Basin Outfitters’ most popular trips, an eight-day summer horseback excursion from Cody to Jackson.

After a day spent trout fishing under the guidance of an expert angler, guests enjoy a catered dinner and a few songs around the campfire before crawling into a cozy canvas teepee for a good night’s sleep.

For those eager to join a hunting expedition, fall and early winter com-prise the high season. Because of state permitting regulations, hunting trips must be planned well in advance for most types of game, says Shane Clark of

Modern explorers discover outdoor adventure

to

Fly fishing opportunities are plentiful in Wyoming, which offers a treasure-trove of choices for outdoor enthusiasts.


Bugle Basin Outfitters in Afton, which specializes in big game hunts for elk, mule deer, bear or cougar in the Greys River area.

“You really need to plan it a year in advance,” Clark says. “You have to apply for a license by January of the season-year you want to hunt. Most of my clients start planning and preparing in November of the year prior.”

Visit the Wyoming Game and Fish Department online at http://gf.state.wy.us for more information.

Other popular hunts include buffalo, Merriam’s wild turkey, antelope and even coyote and prairie dog, which are called “varmints” by the folks at Trophy Ridge Outfitters.

“Probably the most popular thing now is archery antelope hunting,” says Trophy Ridge owner Ralph Dampman. “But we do offer buffalo hunts and the Merriam’s turkey hunts that are attractive to a lot of the folks from the Midwest and East.”

At Trophy Ridge in Carlile, hunters will f ind amenities such as modern cabins and home-cooked meals, which appeal not only to sportsmen, but also

visitors interested in touring nearby sites, such as Devils Tower, Keyhole State Park and Mount Rushmore.

From its base in Jackson, Indian Creek Outfitters leads guests to a permanent campsite in the Targhee National Forest.

“We pack in to a camp that is all set up, and from there we take day rides out to f ish or hunt or whatever the group wants to do,” says Angela Moyer, who runs the business along with her husband, Bruce.

Equestrians feel right at home at Allen’s Diamond Four Ranch, where trail riding, f ly-fishing and wilderness pack trips are on the agenda.

The Lander spread is 9,200 feet above sea level, offering the chance to explore mountain lakes, glaciers and high-altitude forests. Wind River Indian Reservation, historic gold mining towns, Yellowstone Park and other attractions also are nearby.

“Everything we have is horse-oriented,” says Mary Allen, who owns the camp with her husband, Jim. “Horses are our mode of transportation to get to the Wind River Mountains for fishing and camping.” – Renee Elder

Kayakers will be at home in the many fast waters found throughout Wyoming, and landlubbers will find plenty to do along the state’s thousands of miles of trails.P

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recreation

Look, a tall purple rectangle!

When you talk to your child you build vocabulary, so everyday moments become learning moments. For more tips, visit bornlearning.org.

Jackson Hole Airport1250 E. Airport Rd.

Jackson, WY 83001(307) 733-7682

www.jacksonholeairport.com

Established in the 1930s, the Jackson Hole Airport offered its first commercial flight in 1943. Since that time it has served as a transportation hub for Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park and the greater Jackson area. The Jackson Hole Airport is located nine miles north of the town of Jackson at the foot of the majestic Teton range in Grand Teton National Park. As a gateway for Northwest Wyoming, the Jackson Hole Airport is served by multiple commercial carriers including American, Delta, Northwest, Mesa, Skywest and United Airlines. In addition, private aircraft are served by Jackson Hole Aviation, a full-service FBO. The Jackson Hole Airport is a full-service airport offering passengers wireless Internet, on-site rental cars, a restaurant and two gift shops.


Snowfalls and plummeting temperatures signal perfect conditions for winter sports fans as they head for the slopes, the trails and the ice.

With thousands of miles of snowmobile and cross-country skiing trails, it’s easy to make the most of Wyoming’s winter, says Gary Schoene of the Wyoming Department of State Parks & Cultural Resources.

“Our biggest activity is snowmobiling,” Schoene says. “We have about 6,000 miles of trails throughout the state that we maintain, mostly on state or U.S. Forest Service land.”

Another popular winter activity is ice fishing, he adds.“It’s appealing because you can go fish any part of the lake

without having a boat,” he says. “Some people even set up little structures on the ice to protect them from the elements while they fish.”

Downhill skiing, sleigh rides and dog sled tours are other options, especially in northwest communities such as Jackson Hole and Grand Teton, where snowfalls may total more than 400 inches per season.

Curt Gowdy State Park near Cheyenne sees only a fraction of that number – an average of 55 inches per season – which allows greater year-round access by hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians, Schoene says.

“You’ll find snow throughout the season in the higher elevations, but the high plains tend to melt out between storms,” says Lori Hogan of Wyoming Travel & Tourism.

Yellowstone National Park is a favorite winter destination, especially for snowmobile lovers. A number of rental com-panies operate nearby to provide equipment.

“In Yellowstone, you can do something you can’t do anywhere else: see the geysers steaming up nearby as you go cross-country skiing, snowmobiling or snowshoeing,” Hogan says. “It’s really serene.”

Winter visitors can use cross-country skis, snowmobiles and even dogsleds to reach the 112-degree waters of Granite Hot Springs. Or they can visit Saratoga Springs along the North Platte River to enjoy a therapeutic soak so soothing that warring Native American tribes once shared the same waters without a bit of complaint.

In fact, a cold season visit to Wyoming offers plenty of memorable moments, even for those who prefer looking out a picture window to embarking on an outdoor adventure.

“When the land is blanketed with snow, it’s really quiet and the views are amazing,” Hogan says. “You won’t see these types of views anywhere else.”

– Renee Elder

Cross-country skiing in Yellowstone National Park’s Geyser Basin is one of Wyoming’s many winter-recreation offerings.

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It’s Snow IssueWinter doesn’t mean a cold shoulder to outdoors


recreation

F rom local festivals to renowned performing arts organizations to internationally recognized

historical sites, Wyoming’s cultural scene is as vibrant and varied as anyone could want.

“Our job is to drive awareness and interest in Wyoming, so 99 percent of our $13 million budget is spent out of state,” says Alan Dubberley, deputy director of Wyoming Travel & Tourism. “We do a completely integrated adver-tising and marketing campaign on a lot of different levels, which allows us to focus both domestically and internationally.”

The division went through a rebranding process in 2005, when the “Forever West” tagline was rolled out with all the state’s marketing collateral to positive results.

“The brand reminds us to concentrate on who and what we are, and it’s been very successful,” Dubberley says.

Once those visitors arrive, the effort

doesn’t let up to keep them busy.“We cover everything from the state

parks, historical sites and trails on one end, but also have the office of the state archeologist, the Wyoming Arts Council, historic preservation office, state archives and the state museum,” says Gary Schoene, public information supervisor for the Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Services Department.

“We’re pretty diverse, but we’re able to run the gamut from preservation to recreation,” he says.

The parks department defers to state and local tourism efforts in terms of getting visitors to the state, and then it

steps up with itinerary suggestions, Schoene says.

“Our job is to get them to our sites, whether it’s historic, a museum or an art gallery,” he says. “We market all different ways, making sure that we’re presenting not just the big attractions but also all the different things along the way to those destinations.

“We really work to help those second-ary venues, because they don’t have a lot of marketing dollars. Our goal is to get that family who’s coming to Yellowstone to stay an extra day, and maybe go camping or visit a historic site.”

Tourism efforts bring visitors to Wyoming, lengthen their stays

“Our job is to drive awareness and

interest in Wyoming, so 99 percent of our

$13 million budget is spent out of state.”

ExtendedStay


arts & culture

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Those efforts bolster the work of the Wind River Visitors Council in Fremont County. Visitors come through the area to and from Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and other major attractions, and often stop to see the Wind River Indian Reservation and other landmarks, says Paula McCormick, director of marketing.

“We attach ourselves to the parks, but we also market ourselves as a destination in and of itself,” McCormick says. “We have amazing opportunities for outdoor recreation, so if people are looking for a real back-country expe-rience, they’ll stop here and stay.”

Another destination that benefits from regional and state marketing efforts is the Buffalo Bill Museum.

That venue is part of a complex in Cody that also features the Whitney

Gallery of Western Art, Plains Indian Museum, Cody Firearms Museum, Draper Museum of Natural History and Harold McCracken Research Library.

Combined, the museums draw around 200,000 visitors a year from the United States and abroad, with no less a personality than author James A. Michener referring to them as “the Smithsonian of the West,” says Bruce Eldredge, executive director and chief executive officer.

“We’re the largest museum of the American West in the United States, and so we get visitors from all over,” Eldredge says. “We also get people from all over the world to do research here, as well as people who come just to study the individual collections. We’ve got big things here.”

– Joe Morris

By the NumbersBIG BUSINESS IN VISITORS

7.3Overnight Wyoming visitor stays in millions in 2007

$2.7BDirect expenditures related to visitor trade in 2007

$108MLocal and state tax revenue derived form visitor trade

30,350 Jobs connected to tourismDinosaurs that thundered across Wyoming tens of millions of years ago are long

extinct, but five life-size replicas of the hulking creatures are on display at Western Wyoming Community College’s Natural History Museum in Rock Springs.


From its live theater in Jackson to the Cheyenne Symphony and the array of museums in Laramie, Wyoming certainly

doesn’t lack for cultural outlets. And the Wyoming Arts Council is dedicated to

seeing that arts organizations throughout the state continue to grow and prosper.

“We try to be a resource for them,” says Rita Basom, manager. “We work with them not only for grant funding for the arts projects and programming they might be doing, but also serve as an information source through our Web site, our newsletter and various other publications and outlets we provide.”

Wyoming has a rich tradition of visual and performing arts, and all of its communities work to preserve and grow that, Basom says.

“The arts organizations do depend on us, so we get our folks out there,” Basom says. “We’ve got a great connection with the artists and arts organizations in our state.”

The council ties its efforts in with Wyoming Travel & Tourism officials, piggybacking cultural tourism information onto natural resource and other destination packets that go out to prospective visitors.

The organization also is working to restore general operating support to arts organizations, something it used to do and that is sorely needed across the state, Basom says.

“It’s pretty easy to approach businesses and foun-dations about a special project, because their name can be all over it,” she explains.

“But when you’re soliciting funds to pay the electricity bills and staff salaries, that’s difficult to get. We used to have that support category in our budget, but it was stopped when we had a drastic reduction in federal funds. But we’ve been building our program back up, and we’re hoping to restore that fund and be able to give grants that are large enough to really make a difference.”

– Joe Morris

The Wyoming Arts Council is a resource for the state’s cultural outlets. PHOTO BY JEFFRE Y S . OTTO

Council efforts shape culture

Work of Arts


arts & culture

ECONOMIC PROFILE

BUSINESS CLIMATEWyoming is home to a number of local and regional economic development groups that provide assistance to relocating or existing businesses. More complete contact information for the organizations

below is available at www.imageswyoming.com.

READY TO HELPAfton Economic DevelopmentAfton, WY(307) 248-0294

Big Horn County Economic Development Inc.Basin, WY(307) 568-3055

Casper Area Economic Development Alliance(307) 577-7011www.casperworks.biz

Cheyenne LEADS(307) 638-6000www.cheyenneleads.org

Chugwater Economic DevelopmentChugwater, WY(307) 422-3493

Forward Cody(307) 587-3136www.forwardcody.com

South Lincoln CountyEconomic Development Corp.Diamondville, WY(307) 877-9781www.kemmerer.org

Converse Area New Development Organization Douglas, WY(307) 358-2000www.candowyoming.com

Dubois Volunteers Inc.Dubois, WY(307) 455-2041

City of Evanston(307) 783-6309www.evanstonwy.org

Uinta County Economic Development CommissionEvanston, WY(307) 783-0378www.uintacounty.com

Wind River Development FundFort Washakie, WY(307) 335-7330www.wrdf.org

Campbell County Economic Development Corp.Gillette, WY(307) 686-2603www.ccedc.net

North East Wyoming Economic Development CoalitionGillette, WY(307) 686-3673www.newedc.com

Glenrock Economic Development Corp.Glenrock, WY(307) 436-9294 x314

Green River FuturesGreen River, WY(307) 875-4509www.greenriverfutures.com

Guernsey Economic DevelopmentGuernsey, WY(307) 836-2689

Imagine JacksonJackson, WY(307) 690-3047

Big Horn Mountain Country CoalitionKaycee, WY(307) 738-2269www.bighornmountains.org

Town of LaGrange(307) 834-2466www.lagrangewyo.com

City of Lander(307) 332-2870www.landerwyoming.org

LEADERLander, WY(307) 332-5181

Laramie Economic Development Corp. www.laramiewy.org(307) 742-2212

Lovell Inc.Lovell, WY(307) 548-6707

Sublette County Economic DevelopmentPinedale, WY(307) 367-4372www.sublette.com

Town of Pinedale(307) 367-4136www.townofpinedale.com

Pine Haven Economic Development BoardPine Haven, WY(307) 756-9807

Powell Valley Economic Development AlliancePowell, WY(307) 754-3494www.powelled.org

Carbon County Economic Development Corp.Rawlins, WY(307) 324-3836www.ccwyed.net

IDEA Inc.Riverton, WY(307) 856-0952www.mamtc.com

Sweetwater Economic Development AssociationRock Springs, WY(307) 352-6874www.sweda.net

Forward SheridanSheridan, WY(307) 673-8004 x103www.ForwardSheridan.com

Thermopolis-Hot Springs CountyEconomic Development Co.Thermopolis, WY(307) 864-2348www.thermopedc.com

Goshen County Economic DevelopmentTorrington, WY(307) 532-5162www.goshenwyo.com

Weston County Development BoardUpton, WY(307) 468-2600

Platte County Economic DevelopmentWheatland, WY(307) 322-4232www.wheatlandecdev.com

City of WorlandWorland, WY(307) 347-2393www.cityofworland.org

Washakie Development AssociationWorland, WY(307) 347-8900www.washakiedevelopment.com

Town of WrightWright, WY(307) [email protected]


(307) 742-4164www.laramieairport.com

“Shovel ready” building sites available in our Airport Business Park

Looking for ways to save money on gas and help the environment? The EPA wants to share some smart driving tips that could give you more miles per gallon of gas and reduce air pollution. Tips like making sure your tires are properly infl ated and replacing your air fi lter regularly. And where possible, accelerate and brake slowly. Be aware of your speed ... did you know that for every 5 miles you go over 65 mph, you’re spending about 20 cents more per gallon of gas? If you’re shopping for a new car, choose the cleanest, most effi cient vehicle that meets your needs. If we each adopt just one of these tips, we’d get more miles for our money and it would be a little easier to smell the fl owers. For more tips and to compare cleaner, more effi cient vehicles, visit

www.epa.gov/greenvehicles.

Save Money. Smell the Flowers.


Ad Index 1 1 CAMPBELL COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

# CASPER AREA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE

1 CASPER NATRONA COUNTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

2 CHEYENNE LEADS

46 CHEYENNE REGIONAL AIRPORT

4 CITY OF EVANSTON

26 CITY OF RIVERTON

30 FIRSTIER BANK

26 FORWARD CODY

30 GILLETTE CAMPBELL COUNTY AIRPORT

18 HITCHING POST INN

58 JACKSON HOLE AIRPORT

6 LARAMIE AREA

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

64 LARAMIE

REGIONAL AIRPORT

14 LOVELL INC .

22 PACIFICORP ROCKY

MOUNTAIN POWER

46 ROCK SPRINGS SWEETWATER

COUNTY AIRPORT

22 SHERIDAN COUNTY AIRPORT

C3 STATE OF

WYOMING COMMUNITY

COLLEGE COMMISSION

Ad Index (cont.)

©2002 American Cancer Society, Inc.

questions

answers

8 0 0 . A C S . 2 3 4 5 / c a n c e r . o r g

58 STATE OF WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS & CULTURAL RESOURCES

10 THERMOPOLIS HOT SPRINGS COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

12 TOWN OF GLENROCK

8 UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING

C4 WYOMING BUSINESS COUNCIL

C2 WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AERONAUTICS DIVISION

56 WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SERVICES

56 WYOMING HEALTH RESOURCES NETWORK INC .

business images wyoming: 2009

Documents

wyoming business council

business imagesimageswyoming

business almanac

business climateopportunity

downtown cheyenne

university of wyoming

jtusjcvuf cheyenne community

cheyenne leads assists