Nonprofit asks Fremont County to act as pass-through for $5M grant to convert Warm Valley Lodge into student residential facility

A representative of a cooperative educational agency presented a multi-point proposal asking Fremont County to serve as the pass-through applicant for a $5 million State Lands & Investments grant to purchase and retrofit Warm Valley Lodge in Dubois into a residential facility for students with unmet housing and support needs.

The presenter outlined the project’s purpose (housing students with intensive needs, step-down programming and staff housing), described an existing residential model in Wilson, and estimated the facility’s current layout could accommodate about 35 residents but might be reconfigured to serve more. They said district placements, Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) funding and Department of Family Services (DFS) placements would provide ongoing program revenue and that a portion of any grant could similarly cover necessary retrofits (security, cameras, fencing) and administrative costs.

Commissioners sought details on licensure, town water/sewer impacts, whether the county would assume ownership and the administrative burden of acting as pass-through. Staff and the presenter said a pass-through model has precedent, that an MOU would be negotiated with the county attorney, and that administrative fees could be included in the grant; the presenter said the specific program and licensing details remain subject to WDE/DFS review. The deadline for the current grant cycle was reported as January 30; commissioners asked the presenter to meet with the DuBois Town Council and to return with a draft MOU, project budget, and clarification of administrative costs and long-term obligations before the board would take action.

Commissioners emphasized concerns about timeline, town infrastructure impacts, county liability and reporting responsibilities if the county serves as pass-through and requested a formal MOU and further documentation for review at the next meeting.