During a recent government meeting, officials discussed significant changes to the definition of local businesses in Teton County, Wyoming. The proposed adjustments aim to better accommodate self-employed individuals and clarify the criteria for local business qualification.

One of the key recommendations from staff is to allow business owners to submit a log of hours worked locally, verified by paid invoices, to qualify as a local business. This would require a total of 1,560 hours, equivalent to 30 hours per week, aligning with existing requirements for W-2 employment. The proposal also allows for the combination of hours from multiple local jobs to meet this threshold.

The housing authority board has already endorsed the staff's recommendation to remove private residences from the definition of local businesses. This change stems from feedback received in a recent survey, where participants expressed concerns about the current 75% rule that disqualifies self-employed individuals with more than 25% of their clients outside Teton County. The new approach would enable these individuals to qualify based solely on their local clients and hours worked.

Councilor Jorgensen raised a question regarding caregivers employed by private residences, seeking clarification on whether they would fall under the new definition. Staff confirmed that caregivers, nannies, and private chefs employed directly by a household would qualify, while independent contractors working for a private residence would also be considered local businesses.

The meeting concluded with a show of hands to gauge support for the proposed changes, indicating a positive reception among council members. The adjustments are expected to foster a more inclusive environment for local businesses, particularly benefiting those who are self-employed and navigating the challenges of establishing their enterprises in the community.