Page 2 • Tuesday, March 20, 2018 • Sublette Examiner • PROGRESS

PROGRESS
Sublette County – Opening for business!
By Joy Ufford, jufford@subletteexaminer.com

SUBLETTE COUNTY – With county- communities.”

wide broadband in the works, creative and For the second Sublette
skilled workforce and gorgeous mountains
County Chance Meeting on
and open spaces, an enterprising network of
March 13, Murdock and Bixler
hopeful entrepreneurs and investors touts
invited Silicon Couloir execu-
Sublette County as the next place to be for
tive director Jennifer Ford and
business. trustee Alex Muromcew to stop
Pinedale businessman Matt Murdock in and share how their organi-
and economic development consultant Samzation’s structure and programs
Bixler have participated in many brainstorm
benefit potential entrepreneurs
sessions to boost the county’s preparation
as well as investors.
for a new wave of diversified businesses. Part of learning how to best
Inspired in great part by Silicon Couloir,
attract new ideas and ventures
an entrepreneurial entity next door in Jack-
is to understand what attrac-
son, they scheduled Sublette County’s first-
tions are valuable.
ever monthly Chance Meeting in February Muromcew described Sub-
and drew more than 50 people from north,
lette’s connectivity to bustling
south, east and west with ideas, money and
Jackson Hole as being “gate-
talents to network at The Den in Daniel.
ways to each other.”
Jackson Hole has attracted many small Ford agreed: “Pinedale is
or one-person businesses but that popular-
always described as the gate-
ity brings a very high cost of living and de-
way to the Winds, and there’s
creasing private land for growth. Many next
a beautiful symmetry for me
door in Sublette County believe that wave of
coming through here, with the
Joy Ufford photo
growth will stimulate local businesspeople,
ranchers’ stewardship of the
inventors and likeminded people to boost a
land and watching the Jonah Silicon Couloir director Jennifer Ford (right) and trustee Alex Muromcew (second from
diversified economy in this traditional en-
Field start from almost noth- right) visit with locals interested in learning about entrepreneurship at the March 13
ergy county. ing.” Sublette County Chance Meeting.
“There are a lot of businesses and a lot of
Both explained how Silicon “or just have a shoulder to cry on.” friendly and supportive for entrepreneurs.
entrepreneurs in Sublette County and we’re
Couloir’s chance meetings bring together “Entrepreneurs are people thinking about A new critical access hospital is planned for
newcomers, mentors, investors and busi- tomorrow,” Ford said.
just trying to create an opportunity where construction in Pinedale with two medical
people can talk, share ideas on business,”
nesspeople who might “work alone in an At the March 13 meeting, audience clinics already in place in Marbleton and
Murdock said. “We have space, we have aoffice, work alone in a garage” who need to members shared their backgrounds, indi- Pinedale.
trade ideas, find an accountant or attorney vidual strengths, business ideas – and their
lot of creative people, we have really good Bixler, an economic development con-
hopes for entrepreneurial success in Sublette sultant for Marbleton, sees great opportuni-
County. ties ahead for the south end of the county in
The Sublette County Chamber of “Bank of the West has a lot of banking spite of energy booms and busts, with skilled
history but not really for businesses,” said workers, large facilities and decent Internet
Commerce and Sublette County new director Joan Christie. “What do busi- access.
nesses in Sublette County need from me? The Sublette County Chamber of Com-
Visitor Center embraced an What can I do?” merce is actively involved in ENDOW sub-
Rancher, grass-fed beef rancher and Rep. committees, the Sublette County Board of
exciting 2017-2018 year! Albert Sommers spoke about the recent Commissioners is actively working to build
legislative success for funding Gov. Matt a complete broadband system and people
There have been a few changes within this Mead’s ENDOW Council programs. with ideas, skills and capital are actively
“Some business magazines rate us as 50th working to support each other’s entrepre-
organization and we are preparing for a few more.
in the nation for startup capital,” Sommers neurial spirits, according to Murdock, also
said. “There will be some money available on the Pinedale Town Council.
A few of the most notable to get these entrepreneurial support systems “I’ve never seen this level of community
accomplishments this past year: up and running.” and unity at the same time,” he said.
Wyoming Workforce Services is now For more information, contact Matt Mur-
• The Sublette County Chamber of Commerce and Sublette County
also funded to provide development and dock at 307-749-0615 or mattmurdock@
Visitor Center have become two separate organizations, allow- training grants and programs. townofpinedale.us, Sam Bixler at 307-231-
ing for the Visitor Center to seek outside funding for operations. Locally and statewide, goals are to design 4546 or bixler.consulting@gmail.com, or
• We have hired a new Executive Director and Administrative As- education for a broader picture that makes Sublette Chamber of Commerce at 307-367-
sistant who are energized, enthusiastic, and visionary, complete Wyoming and Sublette County business- 2422.
with a “we can accomplish anything attitude”.
• An active Board of Directors offering expertise in a variety of
areas.
• Partnership with other organizations to create CHANCE meet-
Wyoming nonprofits receive
ings- specific for those interested in entrepreneurial networking
• Involvement to increase broadband services
• Voice on ENDOW subcommittee
over $3 million in grants
• Seasonal membership option
• Additional “perks” for members
$48,644 to organizations in Sublette County
• Business member highlight
• Chamber Mixers- networking opportunity For the Examiner
• Livestreaming of Business Knowledge Series LARAMIE –At its most recent meeting, In Sublette County, the Wyoming Com-
• Redesigned eNewsletter the Wyoming Community Foundation gave munity Foundation’s local board recently
• Member survey back in a big way to the state’s charitable granted $48,644 to the following area or-
causes. The statewide organization reported ganizations:
it distributed over $3 million to various or- • Audubon of the Rockies
2018 Initiatives ganizations across the state. • Children’s Discovery Center
• Leadership Sublette County class (limited to 20 participants) The Wyoming Community Foundation • Friends of Big Piney Recreation
• Economic Development planning counts on donor support for grantmaking. • Greater Wyoming Big Brothers Big
• Tourism Ambassador training (training for those working in The organization holds nearly 400 funds for Sisters
the customer service industry) families, individual donors, businesses, and • Main Street Pinedale
• Improved Membership Services nonprofits. These funds are invested, and • Sublette County Sexual Assault and
the returns are used to support charitable Family Violence
causes. • Town of Marbleton