Statewide Economic Development

Statewide Integrated Planning - EDA Planning and Research Grant

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) requested from the State of Wyoming a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). An updated CEDS is required to qualify for EDA assistance under its Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance programs. This project is being led by the Governor's Office and it will keep federal funds available for economic development organizations around Wyoming.

$0

Growth Diagnostics and Investment Thesis

Where are tangible opportunities for economic growth? What hinders economic diversification in Wyoming? What sectors provide the best return on investments? Growth Diagnostics is an economic methodology to identify the constraints to private-sector growth in a region. The outcome will be an investment thesis, a written document that recommends investments based on research and analysis of its return potential. This project would be managed by the Governor's Office in partnership with the Wyoming Business Council (WBC), Wyoming Energy Authority (WEA), and the Center for Business and Economic Analysis (CBEA) at the University of Wyoming.

$5,000,000

Energy Technology and Knowhow

Carbon Capture Facility on Coal-Fired Plant

Wyoming’s coal-fired power plants, several of which are slated for closure absent a major investment, offer a unique opportunity to demonstrate that CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage) can sustain the role of coal, and other carbon-based fuels, in a carbon-constrained world. The primary project goal is to select, design, construct and operate a commercial-scale CCUS project at a Wyoming coal-fired power plant.

$200,000,000

Rock Springs Uplift CO2 Storage Hub

Building off previous CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage) studies completed by the School of Energy Resources at UW, the Wyoming Geologic Survey, and Los Alamos National Laboratories, this project seeks to install the required infrastructure for commercial-scale CO2 geologic injection and to operate as a regional CO2 storage hub. Infrastructure will include up to three fully-permitted Class VI CO2 injection wells and the necessary subsurface monitoring network. The work will provide the State of Wyoming with a fully-permitted commercial storage hub for the geologic storage of CO2.

$25,000,000

Coal Refinery Demonstration

Coal has a variety of valuable attributes above and beyond its use as an effective fuel. This proposal will advance the technology solutions for processing coal, demonstrate the integrated nature of the coal refinery, and demonstrate the ability to make multiple products from coal.

$30,000,000

Hydrogen Hub

Hydrogen is an emerging fuel in today's carbon-constrained energy economy. Establishing a hydrogen hub in Wyoming would create a new energy industry that leverages existing resources and infrastructure to produce and sell hydrogen to this emerging market. This has the potential to secure and sustain Wyoming's energy industry through access to low emissions energy markets. In order to create a cohesive approach across a large region in southwest Wyoming (3-4 counties) that coordinates multiple companies and communities to develop a Hydrogen hub, this initiative will examine:

• • Workforce availability and (re)training

  • Carbon sequestration support for blue hydrogen (with the School of Energy Resources (SER) at UW)

  • Addressing the geologic hydrogen storage challenge (with the SER at UW)

  • Support the analysis of hydrogen blending and conversion (such as to ammonia and liquid organic hydrogen carriers) opportunities

  • Support the analysis of converting existing infrastructure to hydrogen production and export, especially natural gas infrastructure.

  • Public-private partnerships on new infrastructure, such as pipelines, compression, high capacity taps, storage, and loading facilities, etc.

  • Support the analysis of hydrogen markets

$20,000,000

H2 Center of Excellence

Foundational funding to build a center of excellence that will ultimately be funded through other mechanisms, including competitive research grants, support from industry, and more.

Goals:

Launch the SER Hydrogen Energy Research Center (HERC) by hiring two staff

Develop a strategic plan for HERC

Begin a research program

Identify and transition to alternative sources of funding

HERC will be fully self-supporting five years after its initial launch

Objectives:

Conduct research, development, demonstration, and deployment to support a robust and sustainable hydrogen industry in Wyoming

Deliverables:

New expertise and knowledge shared from SER to industry to support a robust and sustainable Wyoming hydrogen energy

$2,000,000

Energy of the Future - Grants

The intention of this proposal is to take full advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime infrastructure investment in a way that captures the most market share for Wyoming. The funding will be used for contractual support for grant writers and managers to pursue federal competitive funding opportunities within the federal Infrastructure bill.

$650,000

Business Expansion and Entrepreneurship

Energy of the Future, Industry Development and Economy Transformation

The future of many businesses that supported the energy sector is at risk. Small- and medium-sized companies need to expand capacity to pivot or create spin-offs. Several medium and large businesses are eager to pursue new opportunities and collaborate but there is a lot of uncertainty right now. The economic sustainability of many communities is at risk as they depend on strong businesses. This proposal will create productivity enhancement and incentives programs to support Wyoming industries.

$100,000,000

Wyoming Energy Transformation Regional Growth Cluster (Economic Development Administration)

Five supporting component projects for a statewide plan approach to all energy markets. 1) Develop an Energy of the Future Industry Partnership. 2) Support for local energy industry projects. 3) Hydrogen target market analysis and aggregation for clean hydrogen and its products. 4) New market tools for companies to build resiliency and adapt to the next generation energy economy. 5) Workforce development and training for energy transformation.

$0

Airborne Geophysics Survey

The United States has inferior public airborne geophysical data coverage relative to other developed countries, and Wyoming has some of the worst coverage in the United States. This analysis would identify new opportunities for mining and mineral development, including for rare earth elements.

$15,000,000

Destination Defining Development Program

Tourists seek more than a great stand-alone attraction. They seek holistic experiences. Wyoming is also realizing increasing demand for livable communities offering a variety of soft amenities for workforce relocation and economic development. Destination development can be a catalyst in diversifying the state’s economy. Amenity provisions include human-made attractions and natural assets; and soft programming such as events, functions and courses that can be adapted to accommodate ever-changing interests. Soft programming is often what encourages people to come back time and again. The Wyoming Office of Tourism, in collaboration with the Wyoming Business Council, will solicit applications from Wyoming communities/counties for destination defining development projects. A local 20% match will be required. The Wyoming Office of Tourism anticipates providing grant funds to one project per year, although more may be possible depending on applicants.

$80,000,000

Outdoor Recreation Business Challenge Program

Outdoor recreation has been identified by the people of Wyoming as a targeted growth industry. However, in many parts of the state, outdoor recreation-support businesses are minimal or non-existent. These businesses include outfitters who guide visitors to their recreational activities and retail outlets that can rent or sell recreation equipment such as mountain bikes, kayaks, skis, etc.

$1,100,000

Agriculture Development Study and Strategy

The current unique-solution to-each-problem approach is causing inefficiency. We need a unified vision and a clear policy. Developing a Wyoming agriculture industry strategy for economic development is the needed first step.

$250,000

307 Nation: Remote Work Training and Community Program

As policies from Washington, DC cause concerns about the future of our core industries, there could be the continued loss of jobs and economic prosperity across Wyoming. To maintain Wyomingites' lifestyle, new opportunities for good jobs must be created.

$4,000,000

Kickstart Relaunch

How can we build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem in Wyoming? Through strategic investments that support innovation when it is most likely to fail due to lack of funds and also build a strong road map for future funding that generates private investors that support the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

$5,400,000

Statewide Accelerators

Building on the problem described in the Kickstart Solution, there is an ecosystem problem and a current bottleneck of only 10 companies per year throughout the accelerator program. This limits deal flow to some extent and limits the support we can provide to entrepreneurs.

$600,000

Value-Added Agriculture Marketing

Agriculture production marketing and export beyond local communities is the focus of this proposal. In addition, not having enough meat processing capacity limits marketing and exporting ability. This could add more capacity.

$9,600,000

State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) - Treasury ARPA Funding

A non-competitive application for a $58M federal allocation of funding. Designed to support local businesses, very small businesses, SEDI owned businesses, through debt or equity for businesses that have had challenges gaining access to capital.

$0

Virtual or Invisible Livestock Fencing Pilot

Permanent post and wire fencing are not flexible or agile enough for changing needs and are cost-prohibitive to constantly move. This would pilot new approaches to support agriculture producers.

$400,000

STRONG COMMUNITIES

Business Succession Matchmaking Program

This program creates a state-wide marketplace for business owners interested in selling their operations. It also acts as a database for qualified buyers interested in investing in Wyoming business.

$300,000

BRC Gap Funding

The WBC has ten projects in the Business Ready Communities and CDBG programs that are beginning construction or are in the process of final design and bidding of the projects. Due to the unforeseen consequences of the COVID pandemic, building materials for all types of projects have seen a dramatic increase in construction costs to complete. In many cases, the costs have increased 30-40% above the original certified project estimates done at the time of application. This would help cover those additional inflationary costs.

$10,000,000

Community Revitalization Fund

Large and expensive anchor buildings in downtowns need renovation, the costs of which make them unattractive to private investors.

$50,000,000

Community Economic Development Milestone Funding

This funding is to support Wyoming communities by starting and completing community economic development milestones such as planning, organization, development, etc.

$5,000,000

Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund
Increase the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund Corpus & Create a Private Foundation - A one-time infusion into the Trust Fund will allow the funds to be held in perpetuity in an interest bearing account. Only the interest earnings will be spent in the following years. The additional $1.2 million allocated will be spent over 3 years to set up a private foundation that will match the public investment with private dollars. This structure will allow for a self-sustaining foundation that will pay for future costs.
$41,200,000

Economic Development Training Programs for Community Development Leaders

Promotes community-level economic developers in Wyoming by creating a WEDA-administered scholarship fund aimed at certifying community development leaders in either CEDP or Finance Professional. Expanding such knowledge will better equip communities to tackle their own growth challenges with local solutions.

$500,000

Rest Area Funding

Continue the operation of rest stops that were closed due to budget cuts in 2020 for 4 years.

$12,188,540

Air Service (Capacity Purchase Agreement) (2021-2024) Added Cost Due to COVID Only

Support commercial air service to Wyoming airports.

$17,736,125