Regional Economic Development

Wyoming’s primary bait this year as always is myriad opportunities for outdoor recreation and wildlife viewing, including such blockbuster international attractions as Yellowstone National Park.

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Recent studies indicate the American Indian economy is at least 20 years behind the mainstream economy.

Let’s be clear: Increasing the capacity of low-income people to own a home is undoubtedly one of the most important asset- and wealth-building strategies currently used by community development professionals across the country. In an economy where many people feel beaten down, homeownership often offers families a refuge, a slice of dignity and a way to exert control over their own lives and environment.

"We are truly committed to making it work and working with our future neighbors," he told his audience Friday night.

Welcome to the ever-so-nascent world of rural IT sourcing. Both large and small companies are tapping into a highly skilled but often underemployed IT workforce in lower-cost rural areas—frequently as an alternative to shipping work overseas.

Budding nanotechnology has started to show its first blooms in the commercial sector.

Lower incomes, higher poverty and the decline of traditional industries are common themes in the intermountain West. These rural Western regions are tethered to tourism, and capital for new businesses is scarce. In addition, schools are starved for resources and higher education options are limited.

"Business, rather than government, creates wealth and pays the bills," said Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

Whether state and economic development officials agree with the finding, it nonetheless is the ranking that businesses will see when considering locating facilities in Wyoming, Bruns said.

"If that’s how we score, we better work with those numbers," he said.