Last month an announcement came Kemmerer City will receive an economic development grant from the Economic Development Agency, but now more details are coming out what that all entails.
The city will receive $138,950 from the federal agency and matching funds from various organizations and cities will bring it to a total of about $277,000.
“We really appreciate all those who contributed funding and time to this effort,” said Kemmerer Mayor Tony Tomassi in a statement. “We have done economic development studies in the past, but this is the first time we have had the funding to hire someone to make it happen.”
The first step will be to study the economy and to find ways to strengthen and diversify it. After the study a request will be sent for an Impact Manager to come and implement the strategy. The project is expected to last three years.
“The new study will not just evaluate previous studies done, but more importantly, analyze our current challenges and opportunities,” said Tomassi. “We would prefer to hire a firm that has experience diversifying and strengthening coal-reliant, energy-based economies.”
City administrator Brian Muir says the Request For Proposal (RFP) template for this new study came from Colstrip, Montana, which is an energy town that has had retirement dates announced as well. He says they will look at that and customize it.
“They’ve (Colstrip, Montana) already seen some successes,” Muir said. “We’re going to watch carefully how things are going with them and try to improve our processes as well by watching what they are going through.”
Muir says the impact study will have a firm come in and look at the strengths and weaknesses of the community along with the opportunity and the threats. He points to the announcement of the retirements for the Naughton Units as an example of a threat.
“We do have a big opportunity to work with the Wyoming Public Service Commission on trying to find legitimate buyers for the coal-fired plants,” Muir said. “So that’s giving us a great opportunity and optimism as well.”
Since receiving the grant, a new Kemmerer Area Diversification Committee has been formed to help with the project. It consists of Kemmerer City Councilman Mark Quinn, Lincoln County Commissioner Robert King, and South Lincoln Economic Development Corporation Chair Theresa Frommel. Muir says they are tasked to try and come up with a very customize scope of work before an RFP process is sent to firms. He says they will also provide advice on how to implement the plans.
Muir says retention and business expansion is the best thing to start with in a project like this. However, he says south Lincoln County needs to find a way to attract other businesses as well.
“The kind of business based on the skill set of our population,” Muir said. “One thing as well is we need to define what we are doing good at outside of the energy community.”
He gives an example based on conversations he’s had with real estate agents that things there are not too bad.
“One area that things could be hopeful is the recreational properties that are being sold quite well,” Muir said. “I think that’s something we are going to be looking at.”
Muir says whenever you are attempting to bring in new business you need to look at the retail, but you also need rooftops for it. He also says there is an aspect in the housing market that is not well served.
“That’s the people that are looking in the 200-300 (thousand) range,” Muir said. “We need more of those.”
Another area of focus will be manufacturing according to Muir. He says Diamondville mayor, Mark Langely, has a patent on a device he has created for a welding process. He says it seems as if Langely’s business is doing fairly well which is an opportunity to expand.
Muir says there will need to be that focus on how you can bring in more manufacturing using the resources you have in the community.
