Economic Development BRE & Recruitment
Economic Development
If you’re a local business, then the Powell Economic Partnership (PEP) is here for you. Whether your brand has existed for generations, or you started in your home yesterday, we are dedicated to helping you and your business grow.
We focus on what our area excels at for economic growth and development. Our region’s assets are many: water infrastructure, proximity to Northwest College, a focus on culture and quality of life, and a local airport. On top of that, Wyoming has excellent tax benefits and is full of federal lands – lands that can become beneficial to us.
PEP is committed to helping current local businesses meet their needs. In fact, the only way for a local economy to succeed is if we build capacity for the businesses already in our area.
PEP offers one-on-one business assistance and has abundant resources available to you. Whether you need a loan, grant, tax credits, data sources, or technical assistance, we are here to help you.
In addition to supporting our current businesses, PEP and the city of Powell are focused on recruiting new businesses. We have a comprehensive package that provides information to prospective companies and site selectors to help understand the advantages of moving a business to the Big Horn Basin area.
Business Retention Expansion and Recruitment
What Changes Has PEP Made?
PEP has a focus on building Powell and Park County as agricultural and outdoor recreational economies. Utilizing the lands available to us is crucial in this development. There are four main areas of concern that PEP is focusing on: agriculture, outdoor recreation, tourism, and aerospace.
Agriculture
Agriculture is an important part of our local economy. However, data has shown that our agriculture industry may be in jeopardy. We are dedicated to saving this industry by supporting local food systems and recruiting agribusiness, as well as building a brand for Park County’s local farms.
So far, PEP has successfully helped the University of Wyoming Ag Econ Department complete an ag study titled Economic Contributions from Agricultural Production in Wyoming, about what farmers and ranchers in Wyoming produce in each county. Also, PEP is dedicated to keeping farmers, businesses owners, stakeholders, and more up to date on industry changes, and hosted AgriInsights to share this crucial data. PEP has people dedicated to these initiatives, such as a representative on Park County Open Lands and a Local Farm Foods Coordinator AmeriCorps VISTA.
Currently, PEP’s goals are to fundraise for and implement projects that increase the customer base of local farmers. This includes farm-to-school programs and creating a local food hub. In this way, local farmers will have consumers in the regional area and be a distributor of their own goods. Additionally, farmers can get connected directly to consumers by signing up for the USDA Directory, allowing potential customers inside and outside of Wyoming to connect with them directly.
We are also currently fundraising for an Agriculutral Tipping Point Study to determine the acreage needed to maintain an ag economy. As agricultural land is sold off, the future of Powell’s economy is uncertain. This study would allow the city to see the dangers of losing such land and how we can best support our farmers and ranchers in diversifying their income.
Powell is well-positioned to attract new agribusiness ventures with our strong water infrastructure and large agricultural lands. By creating these tools, PEP is ensuring Park County agriculture remains resilient and profitable.
Outdoor Recreation
Across the U.S., outdoor recreation is a $1.1 trillion industry, generating $2 billion annually in Wyoming and supporting over 16,000 jobs. In Powell, PEP is tapping into this industry by focusing on positioning the community as a hub for family-friendly outdoor adventure.
PEP is leading projects that improve quality of life, attract a talented workforce, and generate tourism in the region. This includes the building of a trail that connects to the Great American Rail Trail. This is a trail that stretches across the nation, from Washington State to Washington, D.C. PEP already has permission from landowners and over 1,000 signatures to begin, and is currently raising money for the surveying and development of the trail.
The Outdoor Rec Planning VISTA has also started programs like Helmet Heroes and birding activities for students and seniors. These are free, easily-accessible activities for residents of Powell to enjoy. Additionally, Helmet Heroes donated helmets to children who could not otherwise afford one. Now, they are safe to ride around our community.
PEP has also collaborated with the Park County Outdoor Rec Collaborative (PCORC), who has created streamlined processes for moving projects forward on public lands.
Travel & Tourism
With our proximity to Yellowstone National Park, it is clear that there’s another strong industry for us - hospitality.
PEP is advancing tourism through the Big Horn Basin’s Experience Next Gen Sector Partnership. This innovative framework connects education, business, and workforce leaders to strengthen the region’s hospitality industry and close existing service gaps.
Through this initiative, PEP has secured a state grant to support destination development and hospitality training across Park, Big Horn, Washakie, and Hot Springs counties. Early milestones include a market study for a potential convention center and efforts to expand the Next Gen Experience Sector by 50% by 2025. In addition, other goals include increasing local tourism listings by 25% and increasing partnerships with other state organizations.
Aerospace
PEP and the city of Powell are focused on airport expansion. Building better, more accessible transportation close to the city will bring in more tourists and more businesses. There are several phases to the plan, which will help to grow the aeronautical economy within our region.
Currently, we are in phase one. The current plans are focused on recruiting fixed based operators, including research and development, manufacturing for UAVs, and other light manufacturing. Hangars are also being built to provide for organizations like FedEx and UPS. Most important, however, is the expansion of water and sewer utilities.
We have had major successes so far. If we keep on the right track, we can certainly make the airport an integral part of our local economy.
Donation
All of these projects are crucial to developing Powell’s economy and keeping the city afloat. To donate to continuing economic development projects, click on these links below.
