With Sweetwater County seeking support from its neighboring counties towards a jointly shared industrial megacomplex, the cities of Rock Springs and Green River have offered up their support as well.
Green River Mayor Pete Rust said he, Rock Springs Mayor Carl Demshar and County Commissioner Wally Johnson decided a unified approach, with the cities and county sending a unified message would help bring attention to the county. Rust said the city sent a letter to Gov. Matt Mead supporting the project.
“I think it’s hugely important in regards to job creation,” Rust said.
The impacts aside from more jobs would help improve the economy and bring more people to Sweetwater County and Green River, Rust said.
“We feel strongly that Sweetwater County is well-positioned to be seriously considered for this Industrial Complex because we have the necessary resources and infrastructure in place to support such a facility,” Rock Springs Mayor Carl Demshar wrote in a letter to Sweetwater County Commissioner Wally Johnson.
The letter between Demshar and Johnson also included a resolution the city approved supporting the county as a location for the complex. According to that resolution, the council agrees the county is a prime location, citing the area’s mineral resources, industrial tax base, public services, water, work force and cooperation between local and regional governments.
The city’s chamber of commerce also drumming up support for Sweetwater County. In the chamber’s recent newsletter to local businesses, chamber CEO Dave Hanks penned a front-page article discussing the chamber’s role in the process, as well as listing additional reasons the complex should be located within the county. In addition to several reasons also mentioned in Rock Springs’ resolution, the chamber also notes the education and a young population are also important factors for the county.
“Sweetwater County has a young population with large enrollments in our school district,” Hanks wrote. “Literally, our children are our future potential workforce.”
The Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce is assisting the county in much of the demographics research local officials are assuming state officials will need in making their decision. The county plans to work with the Carbon, Uinta and Lincoln County governments to put forth a joint effort in attracting the state’s attention. Sublette County was initially included as well, but has dropped itself from the effort.
While Johnson has publicly said the complex is an undertaking that most likely won’t occur for the next 10-20 years, competition is already heating up between counties throughout the state. Commissioners have already discussed moves being made in Natrona County regarding its candidacy for the complex, while other counties are working on gathering information for their proposals.
The industrial complex itself is based on a project in Alberta, Canada, known as the Industrial Heartland Complex. Members of the Wyoming Legislature, including local legislator John Freeman, D-Green River, toured the facility, sparking initial interest in bringing a similar facility to Wyoming.
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