Governor Gordon: We Are Building a Thriving Wyoming

Becky Farrell/AARP Wyoming

This column originally ran in the Jan. 2022 edition of The AARP Wyoming News

By Mark Gordon
Wyoming Governor

As Wyoming’s economy and her communities continue their recovery from the impacts of the global pandemic, the state is now faced with a new challenge. How do we best utilize the additional stimulus funds the federal government has appropriated to help Wyoming regain its footing?

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds are one-time infusions that can help build a stronger, more resilient Wyoming, and they should be treated as such. We have an opportunity to use these dollars to shape the future of our state, and it’s important to maximize the opportunity before us.

I have outlined an approach to help Wyoming survive the initial impacts of COVID and identify what can be done to better drive to a future where all of Wyoming can thrive – this is my Survive, Drive, Thrive, Plan which can be read in its entirety on my website.

Last year, when Wyoming received $1.25 billion as part of the Federal CARES Act, I worked collaboratively with the Legislature to get those funds out the door to help Wyoming residents respond to the pandemic. I’m proud that Wyoming spent more per-capita on business relief than any other state. We ensured that our businesses had access to emergency funds in order to survive those challenging early months of the pandemic.

We have three years to spend this latest round of federal funding, and now we also have additional federal dollars coming to Wyoming for infrastructure. The good news is that we have time to identify our needs and strategize deployment of these dollars, with an eye on the long-term benefits for Wyoming’s people. Our great-grandchildren will be paying for this government funding. They also deserve to benefit from it.

I have prioritized that ARP funds be directed towards health and social services, education and workforce training, and economic diversification and development. My full proposal is available online at governor.wyo.gov by clicking on the box that reads “Wyoming’s Strategy to Survive, Drive and Thrive.” A key goal of my proposal is to retain and attract working families to the state. That includes addressing challenges in affordable housing and child care. A second goal is to strengthen Wyoming’s economy and revenue streams. Among the other goals are: better alignment of our higher education institutions; further expansion of broadband access; addressing healthcare challenges including improving access to mental health resources; expanding Wyoming’s outdoor recreation economy and tackling infrastructure projects. I am committed to setting our state up for long-term success, not merely balancing the budgets of today’s operational activities.

Your local cities, towns, counties and schools have also received money directly from the federal government from ARP. Even more funding is heading directly to agencies to provide assistance to childcare centers, behavioral health clinics, community health centers, and other vital community resources, including senior care.

Going forward, we will continue to be transparent on how ARP dollars are spent – just as we are transparent with the work we do on the State’s budget, and have been with the CARES funds. I have continued to champion the idea of simplifying Wyoming’s budgeting process. I believe it is important that these one-time funds be clearly labeled and treated as such.

Wyoming is at a crossroads and we have the opportunity to shape our future. I have worked to right-size government; to make it more efficient to best serve our people. These times, and these decisions, have been hard, but I want to take this opportunity, and the time afforded us, to decide where we should invest in order to achieve the future we imagine.

With vibrant communities, good paying jobs for our children, a growing economy and a low cost of living, Wyoming’s future can be bright. However, we must be thoughtful in how we approach today’s opportunities. I welcome your feedback, which can be provided through my website or through AARP. Their team is engaged in this process and have provided ideas that were considered. Next, our Legislature will weigh in and vote on how to use these dollars, so I urge you to stay involved. Together we can make a better future for Wyoming.