AGP Executive Report

Wyoming Business Council Audit: The Wyoming Business Council says a special state audit found no improper spending or legal violations, with just one documentation-related finding after a review covering July 2019 through March 2026. Rural Healthcare Funding: The Wyoming Department of Health opened applications for the Rural Health Transformation Program, with up to $205 million available to expand emergency and basic care, workforce training, and rural health technology. Energy & Industry: Myriad Uranium began Phase II drilling at the Copper Mountain Uranium Project in Wyoming, starting with four holes at the Lucky Cliff target. Local Business & Community: A Cheyenne-area immigration stop ended with a local business owner reunited with family after a federal immigration hold; and in Laramie, the Soup Kitchen continues serving 140–200 meals daily as it marks decades of food-insecurity support. Public Safety: BLM and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service urged Fourth of July visitors to follow fire restrictions and avoid fireworks on public lands in Wyoming. Education & Civic Life: Wyoming’s Rural Health Transformation and other community efforts land alongside a broader push for civics engagement, including Wyoming’s role in the National Civics Bee pilot.

Wyoming Politics: Stacy Becker filed to run as the sole Democrat in House District 41, challenging incumbent Rep. Gary Brown, pitching her criminal justice and youth-services background as a fresh lens for Cheyenne. Resort Expansion: The U.S. Forest Service approved a 694-acre expansion for Grand Targhee, with officials saying the project was scaled to reduce wildlife and watershed impacts while meeting recreation demand. Local Economy: Casper’s Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo is in final prep for its 79th run, with organizers citing last year’s $4.2M local economic boost. Data Center Fallout: Cheyenne BOPU traced a rare-bacteria wastewater discharge to Meta data center contractor Goat Systems and suspended acceptance of certain discharges tied to fill-and-flush and closed-loop operations. Water Rights Standoff: A major Colorado River tribal water settlement is still blocked as Upper Basin states—including Wyoming—raise unresolved concerns, leaving some tribal families without running water. State Funding: Wyoming approved nearly $3.7M in mineral royalty grants for infrastructure projects, including sewer and emergency power upgrades. Public Health Scam Alert: The Wyoming Department of Health warned residents about phone “spoofing” using a director’s office number to solicit sensitive information.

Energy & Industry: Myriad Uranium has started Phase II drilling at its Copper Mountain project in Wyoming, targeting the Lucky Cliff area and other historical resource zones as it moves beyond its successful Phase I program. Local Business & Growth: Cheyenne’s 15th Street Experience got a major boost with the installation of three historic railcars, part of a long-term plan to draw visitors and support new events and commerce. Business Leadership: The M&A Source honored Transworld Business Advisors’ Austin Zhao and Bobbi Coffey with an Executive Club Award for 2025 dealmaking performance. Community & Workforce: Veterans Talking to Veterans is hosting its Stronger Together Summit in Dubois in August, aiming to rebuild connection and purpose for veterans amid rising loneliness concerns. Public Safety & Health: Wyoming Department of Health warned residents about phone scams using “spoofed” official numbers to request sensitive personal information. Energy Planning: Black Hills Energy filed its 2026 Integrated Resource Plan with the Wyoming Public Service Commission, including a near-term capacity gap plan starting in 2027.

Wyoming Rural Healthcare Funding: The Wyoming Department of Health opened requests for applications for its $205 million Rural Health Transformation Program, targeting basic and emergency care, workforce training, and technology upgrades for rural providers. Mountain West Sports Streaming: Wyoming athletics and the Mountain West launched MW+, a Kiswe-powered direct-to-consumer streaming subscription, with most revenue from Wyoming’s page supporting Wyoming Athletics and the Cowboy Joe Club. Cheyenne Community Support: Needs Inc. in Cheyenne unveiled a bronze “Hope in Hard Times” statue honoring Thomas Elias Ketcios, linking the pantry’s mission to the founder’s Depression-era help. State Budget/Taxes: The Wyoming Board of Equalization sued Gov. Mark Gordon over the constitutionality of the Legislature’s 2024 residential property tax cap, arguing it creates unfair, non-uniform tax outcomes. Business Council Audit: Wyoming Business Council received a clean audit from the state Department of Audit, finding no improper spending under law, with only minor documentation improvements noted. Energy & Grid Planning: Western Governors’ leaders, including Wyoming’s Mark Gordon, backed a multi-state transmission permitting alignment effort aimed at speeding grid upgrades.

Rare Earths & Uranium Watch: American Rare Earths is moving Halleck Creek’s rare earth project forward with an accelerated on-site pilot plant, aiming to prove processing into refined oxide. Energy & Power Infrastructure: Western governors, including Wyoming’s, backed a multi-state task force (WestTEC) to map and accelerate transmission line upgrades to cut bottlenecks and improve reliability. Mining & Jobs: Ur-Energy received Wyoming DEQ authorization to ramp Shirley Basin from limited operations to full-scale ISR, including shipping uranium-loaded resin to Lost Creek. Local Governance & Housing: Laramie City Council candidates faced voters at a forum, with housing, infrastructure, and business growth front and center. Education & Workforce Pipeline: A Wyoming education op-ed argues transfer alone won’t fix bachelor’s-degree gaps and calls for more pathways beyond community college. Water & Data Centers: Residents urged the Evergreen UWCD board to pause new groundwater permits tied to data centers, citing over-allocation concerns. Business Growth: Casper’s new Barnes & Noble is set for a soft opening in early July and a grand opening in August, adding books and vinyl to the local retail mix. Public Safety: NORAD warned general aviation pilots to check temporary flight restrictions ahead of July 4 events.

Energy Infrastructure & Markets: Western governors, including Wyoming’s, backed a multi-state task force (WestTEC) to map and accelerate transmission upgrades across the region, aiming to cut bottlenecks and improve reliability. Oil & Gas Development: South Bow and Bridger Pipeline are planning a new Guernsey, Wyo.-to-Cushing, Okla. pipeline project to boost Canadian crude takeaway capacity, with landowner and community outreach first. Natural Gas Storage Deal: Bear River Midstream launched as an independent company after I Squared Capital acquired Spire’s Wyoming and Oklahoma storage assets, with an eye on expanding capacity for growing demand tied to power and data centers. Banking/Finance: Glacier Bancorp set its Q2 earnings release and investor call dates. Local Business Impact: Casper restaurants reported strong CNFR-driven tourist revenue, with some seeing roughly 20% to 30% gains during the week. Public Safety & Consumer Alerts: Wyoming’s Department of Health warned residents about phone scams spoofing WDH numbers, urging people to hang up and verify. Food Assistance: Wyoming’s SNAP error rate for 2025 stayed below 6%, keeping program costs down. Community & Growth: Cheyenne Frontier Days earned ACM Fair/Rodeo of the Year honors, adding to its 130th anniversary momentum.

Nuclear policy bottleneck: The U.S. still lacks a nationwide system to reprocess or dispose of spent nuclear fuel, leaving nuclear expansion tied up in the waste problem even as AI-driven power demand grows. Right-to-repair push: A new map shows most states don’t fully guarantee drivers the right to fix their own cars, even as a White House push targets federal emissions rules that can limit legal DIY repairs. Federal regulators under pressure: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Trump’s removal of an FTC commissioner, further weakening the independence of federal watchdogs and raising stakes for oversight of markets and energy. Voting rules clarified: The Supreme Court ruled states can count mail-in ballots arriving after Election Day, a major shift for election administration. Wyoming energy & infrastructure: Black Hills Energy canceled a Cheyenne-area Emergency PSPS watch after conditions improved, while a separate water main rehabilitation project is set to bring 10–12 weeks of road closures in south Cheyenne. Data center planning: Vantage Data Centers held an open house for a proposed Laramie County campus, with permitting expected to start late 2026 and major investment estimates tied to the project. Wildlife protection: Gov. Gordon designated a pronghorn migration corridor with tiered protections aimed at preserving key bottlenecks while keeping surrounding areas voluntary. Local business & community: Cheyenne’s 15th Street Experience railcar installation continues downtown, and the city also announced 2026 Neighborhood Night block party locations. Public safety: A multi-state wildfire surge in the Mountain West included the first major 2026 firefighter deaths, underscoring the region’s extreme fire conditions.

Data Centers in Wyoming: Vantage Data Centers held an open house for a proposed 480-megawatt Laramie County campus south of Cheyenne, with possible scaling to 1 gigawatt, estimated $4.8B–$9.6B in investment, and a plan to cover the cost of the needed natural-gas power connection so residential and small-business electric customers aren’t stuck with it. Wildlife & Land Use: Gov. Gordon’s administration designated an Antelope Migration Corridor, using a tiered approach that tightens protections in high-traffic bottlenecks while keeping surrounding areas voluntary—aimed at preserving pronghorn connectivity. Cheyenne Infrastructure: The city’s 15th Street Revitalization is moving forward as restored railcars are installed for the “15th Street Experience,” while a separate water main rehabilitation project will bring 10–12 weeks of road closures in South Cheyenne. Energy & Fire Risk: Black Hills Energy canceled an Emergency PSPS watch after conditions improved, but it had been set up for the Harriman and Curt Gowdy areas west of Cheyenne due to wildfire risk. Education Funding: Wyoming lawmakers are still sorting out school activity funding after the state’s education finance recalibration, with districts facing an additional $3.9M decrease and calls to raise activity funding. Wyoming Business & Jobs: Western Wyoming Community College posted for an Accounting Technician role, highlighting benefits and tuition support for employees and families.

Home Equity Shift: New Mortgage Bankers Association data shows Americans are increasingly using home equity for debt consolidation—39% of borrowing in 2024, up from 25% in 2022—while renovation’s share falls from 65% to 46%. Workforce & Education: The Wyoming Business Alliance, Wyoming Community College Commission and the University of Wyoming are teaming up to expand internships and hands-on learning with business partners, aiming to keep graduates in-state. County Politics: Sweetwater County Commission candidates Island Richards, Robb Slaughter and Keaton West are set for the Nov. 8 general election ballot. Mental Health Capacity: A national spotlight on Wyoming’s broader region highlights the shortage of psychiatric beds, with patients stuck searching for inpatient care. Community Program Recognition: Climb Wyoming was named a top 2Gen program by the Aspen Institute, boosting its whole-family approach to poverty reduction. Energy & Land Deals: Uranium Royalty Corp’s $1.1B arrangement would expand its royalty platform, while Zephyr Energy acquired 27,000 acres in Utah’s Paradox Basin. Local Business Outlook: A Wyoming small business forecast for the new year points to continued adaptation as owners plan around shifting conditions. Cheyenne Events & Tourism: Cheyenne’s 15th Street railcar restoration project adds a caboose and three railcars for public viewing, free.

Wyoming Business & Policy: Senator Cynthia Lummis pushed back on JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon’s criticism of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, saying the bill already includes anti-money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act obligations. Energy & Industry: A Wyoming-focused startup, Airloom Energy, secured major funding to scale its wind-based power system after Wyoming Venture Capital support. Mining & Markets: A uranium market outlook argues the industry is shifting from a temporary rebound to a structural deficit, with analysts increasingly discussing a potential $150-per-pound price floor. Tech & Supply Chains: UplinkRobotics’ new LaunchNav aims to help Wyoming startups find reliable U.S. manufacturers, tackling a common supply-chain bottleneck. Local Business Pulse: Cheyenne Super Day drew residents and vendors to Lions Park, including a new bookstore-on-wheels launching to the community. Environment & Water: Yellowstone’s hydrothermal system again changed fast, with a new boiling pool appearing after a recent blast—another reminder of how dynamic Wyoming’s public lands can be.

Wyoming Business & Jobs: A Laramie startup, Airloom Energy, just landed $7.5 million in private funding plus state and federal support to scale its rail-based wind energy system, a sign of continued investment interest in homegrown tech. Energy & Water Risk: The Colorado River talks collapsed again as deadlines passed, with Wyoming’s state engineer warning that gridlock is starting to carry real consequences for power and water users. Wildfire & Public Lands: A new “Save the Wild West” initiative is pushing a wild horse rewilding strategy aimed at reducing wildfire risk by changing how grasslands are managed. Local Economy & Housing: Wyoming’s budget could hit businesses hardest, and a housing crunch in Gillette is showing how high construction costs can stall new home building. Community & Workforce: Western Wyoming Community College is set to host a free career and transfer fair in Rock Springs on April 2, bringing employers and four-year schools together. Arts & Education: Relative Theatrics will hold its fourth annual Play/Write Showcase May 21, publishing student-written plays after a year-long program in Albany County schools.

Wyoming Housing: The Wyoming Community Development Authority is urging local action to tackle the state’s workforce housing crunch after lawmakers didn’t prioritize it at the state level, pointing to gaps between projected needs and current home production. Cheyenne Growth: Cheyenne’s Project Cosmo is moving from planning to reality, with a proposed 900-acre industrial park buildout that could reshape local construction and supplier demand over the next 7 to 10 years. Rodeo Business: The PRCA board approved a non-binding path to relocate its headquarters, Hall of Fame and museum to Cheyenne, with a proposed 35-acre campus near I-25 and I-80. Tourism & Travel: Grand Teton and Yellowstone both logged record May visitation, a sign that Wyoming’s gateway economy could stay busy into peak season. Public Lands & Risk: A Trump-appointed review of the National Wildlife Refuge System is drawing concern from former officials who warn it could lead to divestment and sell-off fears. Sports & Community: Wyoming’s high school softball and pro golf stories highlight summer momentum, from Wheatland players stepping up in Cheyenne to Peyton Shore’s early lead at the Wyoming State Open. Policy & Business Climate: Commentary and op-eds keep circling Wyoming’s budget and the Wyoming Business Council’s role, with critics warning cuts could slow economic development and damage trust.

Gun Industry Watch: A new WalletHub study ranks Idaho as the state most dependent on the gun industry, with Montana, Alaska, South Dakota and Wyoming also landing in the top tier—highlighting how local politics, gun prevalence and cost of doing business shape the firearms job market. Local Power & Governance: Fall River Electric wrapped its 88th annual energy expo and board election in Driggs, with incumbents Travis Markegard and Georg Behrens re-elected and Paul McLean winning a District 8 seat; members also approved a bylaws change to expand how the co-op disposes of property. Wyoming Economy Snapshot: The state’s Economic Analysis Division released its quarterly MACRO Report, showing year-over-year job growth, shifting oil and gas prices, and lower sales-and-use and severance tax collections through the first nine months of fiscal year 2025. Cybersecurity for Small Business: BBB shared practical cybersecurity tips aimed at small firms, warning that cyberattacks are common and costly even outside big-company IT departments. Data Center Debate: Cheyenne residents continue pushing for limits on new data centers, citing concerns over water, power rates, pollution and local impacts—while state and local officials argue many worries are overstated and communication has lagged. Higher Ed & Workforce: Wyoming’s UplinkRobotics and other UW-linked efforts keep showing up in awards and economic-impact stories, as the state leans on universities and small-business support networks to grow jobs. Custodia vs. the Fed: Custodia Bank’s Cheyenne fight for a Federal Reserve master account continues, with amicus briefs backing the bank’s position and a bench trial set for April 8.

Healthcare Costs & Policy: A new push for hospital price transparency is hitting a wall: more than 500 hospitals nationwide, including 19 in the Mountain West (with 3 Wyoming facilities), missed this year’s requirements after warning letters from the Trump Administration. Broadband Expansion: Wyoming is moving ahead with major rural fiber plans, using $70.5 million in ARPA funds to expand access to more than 11,000 locations, with an additional $348 million expected through BEAD grants. University & Workforce Innovation: UW is launching a Controlled Environment Agriculture Network this fall, aiming to build a workforce and innovation hub around year-round food production. Local Business & Campus: Chick-fil-A is coming to the University of Wyoming Union under a five-year deal, with UW keeping 90% of revenues—while some students raised LGBTQ concerns. Energy & Environment: Critics are challenging Wyoming’s Seminoe-area power plans and the Miller Generating Station timeline, while a separate pumped-storage proposal faces backlash over impacts to trout and bighorn sheep. Civic & Governance: Laramie residents urged stronger rules on data centers, including calls for a moratorium, ahead of a planned future work session.

Wyoming Economy: Wyoming’s unemployment rate edged down to 3.4% in May 2026, from 3.5% in April, with jobless rates falling across most counties and nonfarm employment rising to 297,700. State Budget & Economic Development: Lawmakers kept working through draft bills tied to the Wyoming Business Council, including changes to Business Ready Community funding rules and proposals that would eliminate some WBC programs. Energy & Water Risk: Lake Powell is at its lowest level entering summer, with federal projections warning it could hit “minimum power pool” next spring—raising the stakes for the Colorado River system that already underpins power and regional economies. Maternal Health: A new report card finds Wyoming tied for last in maternal mental health readiness, citing gaps in specialty therapy, screening, treatment options, and support services. Outdoor Business: A statewide outdoor recreation study highlights real economic value for Wyoming—but also points to business pressures like labor costs and limited repeat demand. Public Safety Budgets: Cheyenne-area fire districts warn they could be forced to scale back or close as property tax cuts and annexation-related funding shifts squeeze budgets. Uranium Industry: Premier American Uranium reported shareholder approvals after its annual and special meeting, while Global Uranium began an ambient noise tomography survey at its Astro project in Saskatchewan.

Wyoming Economy: Wyoming’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down to 3.4% in May, from 3.5% in April, with jobless rates falling across most counties and total nonfarm employment rising to 297,700. Energy & Water Risk: Lake Powell is entering summer at its lowest level ever, with federal projections warning it could drop to “minimum power pool” next spring—raising the risk of power disruption and, in worst-case scenarios, “dead pool” conditions on the Colorado River. State Policy Watch: Wyoming lawmakers kept talking about the future of the Wyoming Business Council, including draft changes to Business Ready Community funding rules and possible elimination of some programs. Regulatory Back-and-Forth: Wyoming delayed a planned repeal of wildlife monitoring requirements at coal mines after pushback, with the DEQ still undecided on whether to move forward. Business & Finance: A Wyoming-linked SEC filing says GOP congressional candidate Reid Rasner was discharged by LPL Financial over alleged “unapproved” outside activity, a dispute now playing out in the campaign. Power Shift: Nationally, solar generated more electricity than coal for the first time in a full month, a trend that could keep reshaping the Mountain West’s energy markets. Local Business Growth: Western-EGI expanded in-house capabilities after adding a licensed Professional Land Surveyor, allowing the firm to provide full surveying services statewide.