• Impact fees designed to help counties and towns. Permanent homes planned for LC. 

As new industry comes to southwest Wyoming, Lincoln County is making plans for both infrastructure improvements and housing.

Stephen Allen, Lincoln County Commission Chief of Staff said the region is expecting impact funding with the larger companies making plans for location in this part of the state.

“As industry comes, the communities and counties will be affected by temporary and permanent workers,” said Allen.

“This will affect fire, police, and health services,” he advised, “plus water, sewer, road, and all of those things we use every day.”

He continued, “This is a great way for companies to give the communities a boost to help with the influx of people that we are excited to have here.” He said, “This helps with sales tax and property tax revenue.”

Allen advised the fees will be divided in a three-county area at a meeting coming in May and Lincoln County could receive just over $8 million in assistance.

He said, each county has to present their case regarding the proposed infrastructure needs.  “We are excited to present our case and we can do some good projects” Allen advised. “And, this would help the special districts.”

Allen said  seven companies are expected to locate in the southwest.

He said some of the companies include Project West, a Soda Ash operation at Granger, Pacific Soda near Green River, and Frontier Carbon Solutions, that will include three 21,000 ft. wells for carbon sequestration.

In addition, Kemmerer KDW anticipates an ammonia to coal operation and Tri Site looking at construction in the coming year.

The Terra Power nuclear facilities will be constructed over an estimated seven year time period.

Housing is planned to help the construction in the Kemmerer area.

Allen said 2,100 homes are planned for Kemmerer and 49 in Diamondville.

The Chief of Staff, said home construction won’t be limited to south Lincoln County.

“Housing is planned all over Lincoln County,” he said.  “Thayne has 200 new homes planned and Afton another 200 homes.”

As for the construction, he says the emphasis will be affordable but permanent.

“The Governor’s office is watching Lincoln County because we’re the only ones building permanent homes,” he said. “Others are looking at temporary housing, but we want to break the boom bust cycle by building for permanent residents.”