Edge grant recipients report: day‑program van, boarding kennels expanded with local economic development funds

Two recipients of the Fremont County half‑percent economic development (EDGE) funds updated the council on how the grant money was used to expand services and create local jobs.

Pinnacle Day Center (Shauna Plouffe) reported the purchase of a multi‑passenger van has enabled weekly community outings, Special Olympics travel and expanded program access; Plouffe said trips are regularly full and the program now averages five to 14 attendees per outing. Plouffe said staffing has expanded from a solo operator to multiple full‑time staff and the van supported extended activities such as multi‑day trips and state Special Olympics participation.

Spotted Buffalo LLC (Mandy Nation), a dog boarding, grooming and training business, said EDGE funds paid for a facility expansion that raised kennel capacity from 11 to 24 and supported a new, custom website. Nation said the expansion allowed the business to hire additional employees (increasing payroll from roughly four to eight workers), to support a work‑training partnership that placed a job‑coach participant on payroll, and to begin retail partnerships with other local women‑owned businesses. Nation said the business plans to roll out dog day‑care services by June and has long‑term ideas such as a dock‑diving pool.

Both presenters thanked the council and EDGE committee for the grants and said the awards helped them scale services, increase staffing, and support additional local spending.