Economic group sets sights on more housing

The Sundance Economic Development Committee intends to focus its time over the next year towards looking for ways to promote the development of new housing within the city.

“In order to get more revenue for our city, we have to get more houses,” said Jeremy Holt, committee chairman.

He later added, “Multiple businesses are wanting to move in to this area, but their biggest thing is: ‘Where am I going to live?’.”

Holt reported to the city council last week that the process will begin with education. In other words, the committee will be calling in the experts to provide advice and answers before it attempts to approach and encourage potential developers.

The first of these experts, he said, will be Kathy Lenz, Resource and Economic Development Manager for U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis. Lenz will provide information on such things as potential infrastructure grant funding, which could potentially assist developers with such things as providing curb and gutter.

“We’re going to learn what’s out there and how to get that money, and that’s something we’re going to go to our developers with,” Holt said.

The council was supportive of this goal, with Mayor Paul Brooks commenting that the city has its hands somewhat tied as to its fees and requirements for developers, but that he would like to see money diverted from the Wyoming Business Council for this cause.

For example, he said, he would like to see financial support for developers as they wait for lots to sell.

“We’ve got to do something to get these lots built because, to my mind, the danger is right now but it’s going to get worse,” said Brooks, referring to statewide employee shortages.

“We don’t have snow plow drivers, we’re dangerously short of teachers, we’re dangerously short of nurses. One of the things that we’re dangerously, dangerously short of is places to live when they get here.”