Josh Dorrell, CEO of the Wyoming Business Council, called into SVI Radio’s Weekday Wake-Up on Monday, July 21 to discuss proposed changes to the Business Ready Community Grant Program. Public comment on the changes are open until July 27. Details on how to submit a comment can be found by clicking here.

A full transcript of the interview can be found below.

(0:00) And today joining me live over the phone is Josh Durell. (0:03) Josh is the CEO of the Wyoming Business Council, (0:06) and we like to have him on every once in a while (0:10) to chat about the Business Council. (0:12) Josh, good morning, how are you today? (0:14) Good morning, Duke, we’re doing well, thank you.

(0:16) I appreciate your time as always, (0:18) and just a chance to catch up with the Business Council, (0:20) and specifically the Business Ready (0:23) Community Grant and Loan Program. (0:25) I know there’s been some monies that have gone (0:27) to our side of the state for some projects (0:29) and public infrastructure and whatnot, (0:31) so maybe start by telling us, (0:33) what is the Business Ready Community Grant and Loan Program? (0:37) You bet, well, to start off with, (0:39) the Business Ready Community Program was really intended, (0:42) it’s been in existence for darn near 20 years, (0:46) and it was intended to help communities (0:49) build the necessary infrastructure or amenities (0:52) that would help businesses within that community grow (0:55) or new businesses to locate there. (0:57) One of the things we found back almost 20 years ago (1:01) was that our communities weren’t really ready for growth, (1:04) and so that program is, again, (1:08) putting money into communities and for infrastructure (1:11) or amenities that the community owns.

(1:14) I think a lot of times people get confused (1:16) and think it’s about giving money to businesses, (1:18) but what it’s really doing is it’s preparing our communities (1:22) for businesses to grow or to relocate there. (1:25) Gotcha, and we’ve seen, as I mentioned, (1:27) a couple of those types of projects here in Lincoln County, (1:30) and just to help businesses grow and develop (1:33) with those infrastructure. (1:34) What’s the future of this program, Josh? (1:37) Well, what we’re really looking at, Duke, (1:39) is that this program needs to continue to change.

(1:42) As we analyze the data from those 20 years, (1:46) what we found is that much of the investments that we made, (1:50) they made some good things in the communities (1:52) and there are useful amenities in those communities, (1:55) but it didn’t really change the economy, (1:58) and really that’s our goal is to create a place (2:01) where there are a lot of opportunities for young people (2:03) and Wyomingites, whether they’re older or younger, (2:07) either one, and what we were finding (2:09) is that the communities didn’t really change (2:12) because of those investments, (2:13) and so we said, how can we utilize this tool (2:16) to continue to change, and so what we’re doing (2:19) is we’re making some significant changes (2:21) to the way the program works. (2:23) It’s going through the rules process right now, (2:25) so that’s open for public comment, (2:27) and a couple of big changes in the rules are, (2:30) one, we’re requiring a greater match from the communities. (2:34) The reason for that is that there is twofold, really.

(2:37) One, we really want communities to want what the project is. (2:43) Sometimes when you don’t have to put any money in, (2:46) you think, oh gosh, it’d be nice if we had a community center (2:49) or another project, but when you have to put 25% in, (2:54) that means the community is really behind it, (2:57) and it’s a project that’s gonna make a difference. (2:59) The other thing that it does is it starts to illuminate (3:02) one of the big challenges that our communities have, (3:05) which is they don’t have a way to generate local revenue (3:08) so that they can grow.

(3:11) In fact, most of our communities, when they grow, (3:15) they’re sort of punished (3:15) because now they’ve got more things to deal with, (3:19) but they don’t have the revenues to do it, (3:21) and so as a result, our communities don’t grow. (3:24) And so we wanted to really highlight that (3:26) and show that there’s a big challenge there (3:28) that the business council, the legislature, (3:32) the other executive branches (3:33) are gonna have to get together to solve. (3:35) That one’s a persistent (3:36) and a really big problem for our future.

(3:40) And then the other thing that we’re working on (3:42) is we’re really having communities look at, (3:44) not is it a business committed (3:46) or is it a water line or a sewer line, (3:48) but what we’re really trying to say (3:49) is what is the binding constraint to growth (3:52) in your community? (3:54) What is the thing that’s slowing growth the most? (3:56) And it’s different for each community. (3:58) So, you know, maybe a long time ago, (4:00) we put a business park in darn near every town (4:02) because business parks were in vogue (4:04) and one community got them, (4:06) so heck, the one down the road needs to get it too. (4:08) But what we’re finding is that each community (4:11) has its own set of unique challenges, (4:13) and we should be applying (4:15) the business-ready community’s funds (4:18) to those particular challenges, (4:20) not giving everyone a business park or a rail spur.

(4:23) And so we’re really focusing in (4:25) on what is the binding constraint to growth (4:28) and how do we help you overcome that? (4:30) Not necessarily, hey, you know, (4:33) Rollins, my hometown, got one, (4:35) so gosh darn it, Lurmee, where I currently live now, (4:38) should get one too. (4:40) Speaking with Josh Terrell this morning, (4:41) CEO of the Wyoming Business Council, (4:43) so a couple of questions off of that explanation, Josh. (4:46) First off, you mentioned more investment from the community (4:49) where these projects are going.

(4:51) What were you previously asking? (4:53) I know you mentioned that 25% figure just now, (4:55) is that kind of the new ask? (4:56) Is that kind of the standard or what is the new ask? (4:59) That’s the new ask, is a 25% match. (5:02) And so it depended upon the community size (5:05) and it depended upon the type of project that was the match, (5:08) but it was never hard and fast at 25%. (5:11) And so what we are trying to do (5:13) is really get that local buy-in (5:15) and have that skin in the game.

(5:18) It sounds like you’re trying to be (5:20) much more micro-focused on each community. (5:24) So how are the communities getting involved? (5:26) How does that actually happen, (5:27) kind of the boots on the ground approach with this? (5:29) Are you asking, did the town council step up? (5:32) Are there community, maybe board members that do this? (5:37) How does that work? (5:39) Yeah, it’s a little bit of both. (5:40) But I think that’s also a real kind of a misnomer (5:44) is that folks think, oh, well, the state comes in (5:46) and says we should do this.

(5:48) We’ve always worked closely with the local governments (5:50) or the local economic development organizations (5:53) because they’re the folks who really know the challenges, (5:56) they know their community, (5:57) and they’re really the ones that get the work done. (5:59) And so we’ve been the funding partner (6:01) and maybe we’ve helped with analysis, (6:03) but it really is that local city, county (6:06) or economic development organization (6:08) that we’re working closely with (6:10) because they are the boots on the ground. (6:12) Now we have regional directors throughout the state (6:14) to help with that, (6:15) but ultimately we want to build that local capacity (6:19) so that communities can thrive on their own (6:22) and they have the tools to do that.

(6:24) Josh, what can the average resident of Wyoming, (6:28) specifically our listening audience here in Lincoln County, (6:31) what can the average resident do to get involved? (6:33) How can they see what projects are being worked on (6:35) or considered and express their input? (6:38) Well, for sure, go to wyomingbusiness.org. (6:42) That’s where you’ll find information about the rule changes (6:44) as well as projects that have been done. (6:47) I think the biggest thing that community members can do (6:50) is just really start to understand what’s going on (6:53) within the politics at the local level, at the state level, (6:57) to try to understand how we’re gonna continue to grow. (7:00) I think that economic development (7:01) seems sort of like a big, scary thing, (7:04) but really when it comes to a local level, it’s not.

(7:07) Or even a state level, it’s not a scary thing. (7:09) It’s something that everyone can get involved with. (7:11) So understanding politicians’ stances (7:14) on economic development, (7:16) understanding how economic development (7:18) gets done in your community, (7:20) and then just how you can plug in.

(7:21) And again, we’re taking public comment (7:23) through the 27th of this month on the rule changes. (7:28) So you can go to wyomingbusiness.org (7:30) and take a look at the rule changes (7:33) as well as provide public comment. (7:35) Josh Turrell, CEO of the Wyoming Business Council, (7:37) on the Weekend Wake Up discussing (7:39) the Business Ready Community Grant Program.

(7:41) Josh, anything we missed that you’d like to mention today? (7:45) No, I think as many people as can get involved (7:48) and local governments can go ahead and weigh in, (7:50) we wanna hear as much as we can. (7:52) I think the public process is really important (7:54) and we want more people to be involved (7:56) so we can know what people feel (7:58) and make sure we make a program that makes a difference. (8:00) Josh Turrell, CEO of the Wyoming Business Council.

(8:02) Josh, thank you so much for your time. (8:03) We’ll chat again. (8:05) Thank you, Duke.

(8:06) It’s all part of the Weekday Wake Up (8:07) this morning on SVI Radio.