Helping Cheyenne, Wyoming Grow!

Introduction

Only a short while ago we had a stagnant economy, poor job growth, falling per capita incomes and an outward migration of our youth. We were perceived to be indifferent to the situation. Now we are establishing ourselves as one of the better economic performing small cities in the country. We can, and should build on this momentum while we can. Planning, leadership, participation, cooperation, and mutual support are keys for success in the coming years. We possess all the resources and skills necessary to be successful, IF, we don’t allow ourselves to become complacent. Competition from other communities demands it. New opportunities appearing in the ever changing world economy dictate it. We have gained some economic momentum, let’s build on it . . .let’s pick up the pace!

Competition for Jobs

Once the softening of the economy really settled in, the pressure for communities to attract new industries and jobs has become enormous. Stories of communities offering incentive packages including paying for the construction of new plants, paying for actual moving expenses, paying the first year’s payroll expenses plus offering multi-million dollar cash payments are commonplace. Companies in tough financial shape can easily be swayed into an illogical decision to gain some cash relief in the short term. Cheyenne and Laramie County have been quietly surviving in this economic development chaos with a strategy not unlike the community itself: solid, perseverant, and practical. LEADS has adopted an approach for those prospects who are looking for a long term relationship built on the fundamentals companies need to be successful. They have avoided the approach of trying to “buy” the prospects business with short-term incentives. The key elements of our program are:

• Readily available building sites at very negotiable prices
• Sewers, water, roads, telecommunications and power already in place (at LEADS expense)
• A proven program for delivering customized training and adequate numbers of workers
• A commitment to improving employees’ quality of life
• Low costs of living
• Low taxes
• A clean, safe environment
• Excellent rail and highway facilities
• Small town values and only 90 minutes from the amenities of a major metropolitan city.