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Wyoming Business Council and EDA outline statewide economic development strategy emphasizing workforce, broadband and resiliency
Summary
Council staff and an EDA representative presented the draft Statewide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, highlighting community-driven planning, equity, workforce alignment, broadband and climate resiliency; the board discussed regional rollout and local implementation resources.
Council staff and a technical representative from the U.S. Economic Development Administration explained the purpose and next steps for Wyoming’s statewide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (SEDS). The draft prioritizes community-driven regional plans, embeds climate resiliency and equity principles, and seeks to align state and EDA funding to catalyze regional projects.
Aaron Pratt, EDA economic development representative for Wyoming and Montana, described the SEDS as a strategy‑driven plan intended to quantify job creation and catalyze private investment. Staff said the document will be used to help unlock EDA funding, and that the Business Council will support communities through outreach, regional “Insight” work, and the Wyoming Working Together conference. The draft also calls out broadband, workforce development and community capacity as cross‑cutting priorities.
Board members asked about the outreach plan and how communities will use the SEDS to develop regional and local action plans. Staff described listening sessions, community surveys, a SWOT process and an evaluation framework. They said a public rollout and regional technical assistance (including funding to write regional plans) are planned, and recommended continuing work with local partners to turn the statewide strategy into implementable regional and local projects.
The presenters urged that the SEDS be treated as a living document, updated regularly and used as a consistent foundation for grant applications and regional planning work.
