Volume 1 Issue 2 December 2009
The holidays are an important time to reflect on the past year and give thanks for our family and our friends. LEDC has been proud to work with the people of Albany County during the past 25 years to make our community a stronger and better place. The staff at LEDC would like to wish you a safe and wonderful Holiday Season.
The Economic Impact of Laramie Regional Airport
In August of this year, a report entitled "Wyoming Statewide Airport Economic Impact Study" was completed by Wilber Smith Associates for the Wyoming Department of Transportation, Aeronautics Division. The report examines 35 airports in Wyoming and highlights the direct influence this industry has on statewide economic growth.
The following figures represent the economic impacts for Laramie Regional Airport (LAR):
Direct Annual Output: $9.5 million
Indirect Annual Output: $2.3 million
Induced Annual Output: $6.9 million
Total Employment: 142 jobs
Total Annual Payroll: $5.1 million
Total Annual Economic Output: $18.6 million
These figures clearly show how vital LAR is to our local economy and what an important asset it is to the continued development of Laramie and Albany County. Sitting on about 1,600 acres of land just west of the downtown, LAR not only provides transportation options for Laramie residents, it also benefits tourism, emergency medical services, the military, public safety, recreation, and overall quality of life.
LAR was built in 1934 and was originally named Brees Field after General Herbert Jay Brees of the US Army. In 1944, the runways were paved to allow hundreds of B-24 bombers to land at Laramie so the crews could have some rest and recuperation at the UW recreation camp in the Snowy Range.
Today, LAR serves an average of 40 based aircraft, including private and corporate planes. Additionally, LAR houses the University of Wyoming's Department of Atmospheric Research aircraft, used to conduct state of the art research. Laramie Regional Airport is operated and financed by the City of Laramie and Albany County, and is governed by a joint powers board appointed by the city and county.
The recipient of 3 Wyoming Business Council Grants, LAR is continually looking to improve and add value to its facility. Currently, a 100 acre business park is being developed under an Airport Enterprise Zone. The Professional Airpark and Research Center (PARC) already has several lots with road and infrastructure installed, making them completely "shovel-ready". DeltaNu, a local high-tech manufacturer of Raman spectrometers, is the first tenant of the PARC. Occupying a new 12,000 square foot facility designed specifically for its operations, DeltaNu has been able to centralize its manufacturing, product development, application labs, and administration in one location.
The remainder of the PARC's infrastructure east of General Brees Road should be completed by this summer. This will create several additional sites for businesses wishing to take advantage of Wyoming's strong business climate and Laramie's ideal location at the northern end of the Front Range Urban Corridor.
If you are interested in the PARC's "shovel ready" sites, want more information on the Laramie Regional Airport, or would like to get a copy of the executive summary of the report, contact Jack Skinner at skinner@laramieairport.com.
For more information on how LAR's economic impacts were calculated and to view the entire Department of Transportation report, please click here:
LEDC December Client Report
As always, we encourage you to contact us for more information about our activities. A review of a couple of "Hot" clients we've been working with this December
1109WEDA2 - A manufacturer of steel storage structures that could bring 50 - 100 jobs to Laramie.
1009IDAY - Internet based language school considering Laramie for expansion.
Click here for all of the "Hot" clients as of 12/15/09
In the meantime, please remember the best leads for Laramie come from existing businesses and residents. Please note: all of LEDC's clients are kept confidential unless they specify otherwise.
Partner Recognition
Even through these tough economic times, our hometown newspaper, the Laramie Boomerang, continues to be a successful and active member of the community. Not only has it maintained constant levels of circulation, it has not had to implement any staff reductions or layoffs. Part of this success can be attributed to the organization's ability to develop additional revenue streams. The Boomerang recently took on a contract to deliver papers for the Denver Post, Wall Street Journal, NY Times, USA Today, and Baron's Financial Daily. This provides increased revenue for The Boomerang as well as additional income for the local independent contractors who deliver the papers.
Another project that is currently being developed is the reworking of The Boomerang's website. The new and improved website will debut in late January and will include more pages, interactive features, videos, increased ad space, and a reorganized sports and tourism page.
One of the strengths of The Boomerang is its ability to not only report the news in our city, but be an active member of our community. This takes many forms at The Boomerang - from supporting community organizations and promoting area businesses to encouraging employees to become volunteers.
For the high school football championships held in Laramie last month, The Boomerang partnered with the Albany County Tourism Board to create a wrapper for the paper that promoted local restaurants, shopping locations, and the community as a whole. These were provided to each of the hotels to help visitors enjoy their time in Laramie, easily find local shops and restaurants, and encourage them to return.
The Boomerang is a partner with many organizations in Laramie. Laramie Economic Development Corporation , Laramie Area Chamber of Commerce, Albany County Tourism Board, Laramie Beautification Committee, Laramie Main Street Program, Downtown Laramie Business Association, Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions Club, United Way, and the Cowboy Joe Club are all supported by The Boomerang. Staff members are also encouraged to take part in community functions and volunteerism around Laramie. Several employees are heavily involved with Jubilee Days and staff often assist local organizations with developing marketing materials.
This summer, staff volunteered to help organize the Chili Cook-off at the Jubilee Days Parade. All proceeds from the cook-off and the sales of beverages were donated to Ivinson Memorial Hospital. The Boomerang is looking forward to holding this event again next summer and helping it become a tradition each year after the Parade.
The Boomerang also partners with the Lions Club each February to present an annual community service award in Laramie. It is currently soliciting nominations for the award. If you have someone in mind who is a strong community volunteer and is always working to help others, please drop-off a detailed nomination letter at The Boomerang or email Don Black at dblack@laramieboomerang.com.
We are fortunate to have such a strong business and community supporter in The Laramie Boomerang and LEDC is very pleased to have the organization as one of its Partners in Progress.
Each month LEDC wants to recognize one of our partners for success they have had in business or support they provide in the community. Please email jdick@laramiewy.org if you know of a business or individual that should be recognized.
Medicine Bow Fuel & Gas Project
Medicine Bow Fuel and Power, LLC (MBFP) has been issued a federal loan guarantee to support construction and start-up of its coal-to-liquids facility, a coal mine, and associated coal handling facilities in Carbon County. The MBFP project has a total price tag of $2.7 billion and construction should begin in 2010 and last about four years. Although this facility will be constructed in Carbon County, Albany County and the City of Laramie will receive many of the benefits. During the four year construction phase about 2,400 jobs will be created. Following completion of the facility, there will be over 400 long-term positions for executives, engineers, technical staff, and miners.
The completed facility will use an advanced industrial gasification and liquefaction process to convert coal into approximately 21,000 barrels per day of low-sulfur, low-benzene regular gasoline. The facility would capture at least 50 percent of the carbon dioxide (CO2) generated from the process. The captured CO2 would be compressed and sold for use in enhanced oil recovery. In addition to the gasoline and CO2, MBFP has found buyers for the sulfur and slag outputs that will be produced during the operations phase.
The MBFP project offers many advantages for Wyoming and for Albany County. It will result in a greater return for Wyoming as a whole by adding significant value to its coal resources. During both the construction and operating periods of the project, it will provide good job opportunities for our citizens and our recent college graduates. It will also bring additional investment into our community to support the requirements of the project and its workers.
There will be a public meeting held in the Town of Medicine Bow tomorrow (December 16, 2009) as the first step in the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) required by the U.S. Department of Energy.
DATE: Wednesday, December 16, 2009
TIME: INFORMAL QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION: 6:00 p.m.
PRESENTATION OF ORAL COMMENTS: 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Medicine Bow Community Hall
319 Pine Street
Medicine Bow, WY
Individuals wishing to present oral comments may either register in advance by notifying DOE via phone or e-mail as indicated below or register at the meeting. Comments presented at the meeting or received at DOE by December 27, 2009, will be considered in preparing the EIS.
Registration for Oral Comments at the Public Meeting:
Phone: Ms. Lynn Alexander
Office: 202-287-5656
Toll-free: 800-832-0885 ext. 75656
Electronic Mail: MBFP-EIS@hq.doe.gov
Public Comments on the Scope of the EIS:
U.S. Mail: Ms. Lynn Alexander
Loan Guarantee Program Office (CF-1.3)
U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20585
Electronic Mail: MBFP-EIS@hq.doe.gov
Small Business Energy Audit Program
For all small business owners who would like to save money on energy expenses!
This matching grant provides 75% of up to $4,000 for a Level 2 Energy Audit. It is open to all who meet the SBA definition for small business. Topics include building shell, lighting, HVAC and process energy. Manufacturers may use the audit to qualify for sales tax abatement on energy used in the manufacturing process.
Description of a Level 2 Energy Audit:
A standard energy audit will include quantification of energy uses and losses through a detailed review and analysis of equipment, systems, and operational characteristics. Standard energy engineering calculations will be used to determine efficiencies and calculate energy and costs savings based on the costs of any suggested improvements. The audit will include an economic analysis of the recommended conservation measures (Handbook of Energy Audits, 6th ed., Thumann, Younger).
For more information please contact:
Shannon Stanfill, Manager
State Energy Office
307.777.2841
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