The Carbon County Way

On Friday evening, the Carbon County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) hosted their event, Black Ties & Boots, at the Platte Valley Community Center in Saratoga. In line with its mission of economic development, the event was a fundraiser to benefit new business startups in Carbon County.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon was the featured speaker, but was not the only one to speak at the event.

The featured speaker was Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.

Gordon was not the only speaker.

The first speaker of note was Yvonne Johnson, Director of the CCEDC.

Johnson welcomed everyone in layered quilts which represented all the regions of Carbon County. She said when taking over a year before, many people were not even aware of the CCEDC.

"I traveled over 10,500 miles all over the county to change that," Johnson said. "I went to town councils all over. In Baggs they were surprised to see me come more than once."

Johnson talked about the people and towns in Carbon County being exceptional. She said every municipality had some project being formulated.

As she continued, Johnson went to some notes. Looking out to the audience she confessed her seeming lack of focus.

"I am trying to buy time here, because the governor isn't here yet," Johnson said as the audience laughed. "Those of you who know me understand that I love Carbon County and I will do everything I can for the people and the towns."

The next speaker was Josh Dorrell, CEO of the Wyoming Business Council.

"It is really hard to follow Yvonne and her words," Dorrell said almost immediately. "I started in my position February 2020 and in March 2020 the world changed. I can say we at the Wyoming Business Council, (WBC), along with Governor Gordon did everything we could to help the business community. We delivered over $500 million to businesses throughout the state."

Dorrell said the money helped keep businesses open. He added the WBC helped 10,000 businesses.

"We learned resilience in our economy and that is exactly what must be done with Wyoming's economy," Dorrell said. "The state must get away from boom and bust cycle, because we can't anticipate anything."

He said organizations like the CCEDC were essential in helping Wyoming with its economy.

Gary Hoogeveen, president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Power announced the completion Energy Vision 2020. The initiative significantly expands the amount of wind power serving customers. The $3.1 billion investment included upgrading or "repowering" the existing wind fleet with larger blades and newer technology.

"A few years ago, Carbon County Commissioner Sue Jones commented, although I am paraphrasing, 'When people travel to Wyoming and look out to the wide landscape, they see sagebrush and endless space but when we look out, we see family history and tradition'," Hoogeveen said. "They were beautiful words and Commissioner Jones, I want you to know that we heard you and took those words to heart."

Hoogeveen said Energy Vision 2020 will bring in 1,150 megawatts of new energy is enough to supply 400,000 homes. Two of the three wind farms are located in Carbon County. The largest wind farm in PacifiCorp (parent company of Rocky Mountain Power) is TB Flatts outside Medicine Bow.

"We are the largest regulated utility owner of wind in the West and we are proud to do that based here in Carbon County," Hoogeveen said. "We invested $3.1 billion in Energy Vision 2020 and $2.6 billion was spent in Wyoming. I conclude to thank you Carbon County for your leadership and the future is incredibly bright."

Gordon said he has learned over the years as Wyoming's treasurer, and now governor, the way to lure businesses to Wyoming is by telling them about the people, the educational resources and what Wyoming can do for them with economic organizations in place.

"When I talk about helping each community find its own way, it really is having a nimble structure that we really have tried to design across all platforms, so it is not just an economic development agency, it is how does that economic agency interface with the local economic development effort," Gordon said. "We are really trying to work with the Wyoming Innovation Partnership where we have talked about the University (Wyoming) becoming much more engaged with the community colleges in a partnership."

Gordon said Wyoming has done a great job with the School of Energy Resources and its integrated test center.

"Our commitment to technology helps Wyoming's driving vision to make sure that we solve energy issues that uses an all of the above energy portfolio. This is done by thinking with innovation in mind," Gordon said. "Carbon County was the first county in the country to establish a migration corridor and we haven't done it by taking private property. We have done two and this has happened by engaging in a process that is dynamic, community based and that represents the best of what Wyoming has to offer, which is people getting together and recognizing we have a multiple use future in front of us. I read once and find it true, 'Wyoming is the place, other states would like to have been if they had taken the time to do things right'."

After Gordon spoke, cocktails were served featuring spirits made by Brush Creek Distillery.

Dinner was catered by Firewater Public House and utilized all local food product. Iron Creek Bison Company, Berger Beef and Brush Creek Creamery were all featured.

After dinner, an auction followed.

Johnson said on Monday the event accomplished exactly what she had hoped. It established the CCEDC as an organization trying its hardest to help residents and businesses in Carbon County.

"In the beginning when I first started to tour the municipalities, I heard so often people didn't know what the CCEDC did," Johnson said. "I worked so hard to change that perception and this event takes it one more step in letting people know what we are doing. The thing is, when people question what we do at the CCEDC, it isn't what we are going to do for you. It's you showing, as a community, that you support economic development in the community for a better way of life, not only in your town, but for all of Carbon County."

Johnson said the event could not have gone better.

"I am over the moon," Johnson said. "The event showed our support to all of the communities, which is exactly what I have been telling people this is what the CCEDC is all about."