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Sheridan WY revamps economic development efforts
SHERIDAN, Wyo. (AP) – The Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce is dropping its economic development efforts but the work will be carried on by its director of economic development, Bill Bailey.
The Associated Press Billings Gazette
Bailey plans to set up a nonprofit corporation at a separate location, said Mayor Jim Wilson.
Wilson said separating economic development from the chamber will give Bailey the autonomy he needs to get things done and to secure funding.
Currently the county earmarks $20,000 per year for economic development and the city contributes $40,000 in revenue from an optional 1-percent sales tax. Wilson said that funding will likely remain the same but the new organization will have access to additional funding options.
"Nonprofit status has to be established before any check can be drawn from the public’s 1-cent optional money. We must stay with the intent of the ballot," he said.
Mike Nickel, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors, said it is in the community’s best interest to separate economic development from the chamber.
"We’ll be working very closely with Bill, maybe have one of our board members serve as an ex officio representative with the new economic development office," he said.
Wilson said he would like to see the new organization attract medium-sized companies with 20 to 40 employees who are paid above minimum wage.
"Our first priority, though, is looking at what we have now and expanding that, helping existing businesses grow," he said. "We’ve got to work together to plan and grow this community."
Nickel said the split is not "set in stone yet."
"There are so many great groups here in this community and I finally see them getting together to work together instead of these little pockets all working separately," he said.
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Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.
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