Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting 12/17/2025 Virtual

What does it take to build a strong, resilient economy for Wyoming’s future generations?

In this Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting (December 17, 2025), state leaders, board members, and partners walk through how Wyoming is approaching economic development differently than in the past—focusing on return on investment, workforce challenges, housing, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and long-term community resilience.

This meeting includes:
A candid look at how Wyoming competes for jobs and investment in today’s economy
Real examples of businesses choosing whether to stay, grow, or leave the state
Updates on venture capital, startup support, and small business financing
Discussion of housing, childcare, broadband, and infrastructure as barriers to growth
A clear explanation of how state dollars are being used—and why saying “no” matters

Whether you’re a business owner, community leader, student, policymaker, or simply care about Wyoming’s future, this conversation offers a transparent look at the tradeoffs, priorities, and opportunities shaping the Cowboy State.

👇 Use the timestamps below to jump to the topics you care about most.
00:00 – Meeting opens & purpose
Pledge, roll call, and framing of the board’s role in Wyoming’s economic future.

03:52 – Why Wyoming’s economic strategy changed after 2020
CEO Josh Dorrell explains the shift toward ROI, effectiveness, and accountability.

06:49 – Saying “no” to projects: what changed and why it matters
How stricter investment standards reshaped community expectations statewide.

11:19 – Who we’re really doing this for
A pause to reflect on future generations and Wyomingites’ long-term opportunities.

13:50 – The Economic Growth Flywheel explained
How the Business Council identifies root problems and builds lasting capacity.

20:14 – Measuring effectiveness vs. efficiency in government
Why solving the right problems matters more than moving faster.

22:34 – Leveraging state dollars and unlocking private investment
How Wyoming is using limited public funds to attract much larger investments.

29:36 – Rural Wyoming challenges aren’t one-size-fits-all
Why extremely rural communities face different barriers than larger towns.

35:44 – Keeping companies in Wyoming: real business decisions
Case studies showing why infrastructure and workforce readiness matter.

46:35 – What Wyoming citizens say they want
Polling highlights jobs, wages, housing affordability, and opportunity gaps.

48:54 – The infrastructure funding gap
Why Wyoming communities may need $500M–$2B to truly be growth-ready.

50:57 – Critical minerals & advanced industries: opportunity or missed chance?
Why Wyoming must decide whether to stay an extraction state—or build full value chains.