In a candid and forward-looking quarterly meeting this week, the Wyoming Business Council (WBC) Board of Directors turned its focus toward bold strategies aimed at reversing persistent economic challenges, including stagnant job growth and population decline.
During a strategic work session held May 20, WBC CEO Josh Dorrell presented a stark assessment of Wyoming’s current economic landscape, citing limited opportunities for high-quality employment and a troubling trend of long-term outmigration, particularly among residents over the age of 30.
“What we’re doing today is not enough,” Dorrell told board members. “Our current economic activity doesn’t support the high quality of life that Wyomingites deserve. We must do more—and we can—if we’re serious about building a future we can be proud of.”
A Call for Strategic Risk-Taking
The session featured dynamic discussions between board members and staff, focusing on the need for calculated risk-taking and innovative approaches to economic development. With five new board members participating, the WBC emphasized the importance of aligning state and local efforts to build trust, invest in people, and implement data-driven solutions.
“We’re building the muscles and know-how to create real change in our state,” Dorrell said. “The path to transformation is within reach if we stay committed to shared values and bold ideas.”
Board Advances Key Projects, Broadband, and Loan Programs
During its formal quarterly meeting on May 21, the board tackled a robust agenda, including:
- Updates on efforts to strengthen Wyoming’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, including the relaunch of the Kickstart:Wyoming program and progress on Wyoming Venture Capital initiatives.
- Approval of new broadband infrastructure contracts aimed at expanding digital access across the state.
- Endorsement of Challenge Loan program reports and decisions related to small-business lending.
- Advancement of proposed rule changes to the Business Ready Community (BRC) grant and loan program, which will now enter a public comment phase.
Three New Planning Grants Recommended for Approval
The board also unanimously recommended three BRC Planning Grants for final approval by the State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB), set to consider the proposals on June 5:
- Town of Burlington – $40,000 to develop the community’s first comprehensive economic development plan.
- City of Evanston – $100,000 to create a 25-year economic development master plan, aimed at guiding sustainable long-term growth.
- Washakie County – $75,000 to support a unified economic development framework involving the City of Worland, the Town of Ten Sleep, and the Washakie Development Association—marking the first collaborative planning effort among these entities.
As Wyoming looks to the future, the WBC’s latest meeting signals a more aggressive and unified approach to economic revitalization—one that seeks to harness the state’s heritage of resilience and direct it toward bold, modern outcomes.