Governor Mark Gordon has highlighted economic development as a central focus of his administration, stressing the importance of creating a climate that encourages business growth and job creation across Wyoming.
“Economic development is truly economic growth. Wyoming’s government must foster an environment where individuals who create and build businesses can flourish,” Gordon said in his recent budget message. “We must create a business-friendly climate by maintaining low tax burdens and pursuing legal frameworks that attract new investment to broaden Wyoming’s economic base.”
Throughout the state’s history, Wyoming has relied on partnerships between government and private industry to support core sectors and foster innovation. Today, state agencies such as the Wyoming Business Council, Wyoming Energy Authority, University of Wyoming, School of Energy Resources, and Wyoming Community Development Association work together to provide incentives and resources that attract new investment and expand the state’s economy.
As a fiscal conservative, Governor Gordon emphasized his careful approach to budgeting. While he is responsible for submitting a balanced budget recommendation to the Legislature, not every agency request is approved. “The Legislature has the ability to add to the budget, since they are not under the same statutory limitations as I am,” Gordon said. His proposed budget includes nearly half a billion dollars for the Legislature to allocate, including funds for savings to benefit future generations.
Gordon also underscored the state’s potential in energy and natural resources. “Economic growth also includes pursuing new opportunities, the foundation of which have been years in the making,” he said. “In concert with the current federal administration, my administration has made tremendous strides in creating new opportunities for the development and distribution of oil, natural gas, coal, trona, critical rare earth minerals, and uranium to domestic and Asian markets.”
The Governor said Wyoming has a chance to position itself as a leader in energy and technology, emphasizing investments in research, trade agreements, and entrepreneurial initiatives through state agencies such as the Wyoming Energy Authority and the Wyoming Business Council.
“Wyoming must be able to compete with 49 other states to maintain and bring jobs to our citizens,” Gordon added.