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NEWS RELEASE
April 17, 2025
CONTACTS:
Michael Pearlman, Communications Director
Janelle Collins, Strategic Communications Director
Governor Gordon, Senators Barrasso and Lummis co-host Third Annual Wyoming Funding Summit
“It only makes sense to bring those dollars back to Wyoming as investments in our communities.”- Gov. Mark Gordon
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon addressed attendees of the 3rd Annual Funding Summit via video messaging on Wednesday at Central Wyoming College in Riverton. Alongside the Governor, the four-day event is being co-hosted by Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis. Summit attendees include state agencies, local government and non-profit personnel; small business and land owners; and tribal and organizational leaders seeking information on available funding opportunities to address needs including: water and sewer infrastructure; housing, health and social services; agriculture; workforce development; energy development, wildfires and emergency management.
Governor Gordon noted Wyoming has historically been challenged in its efforts to secure grant funding for critical projects; hence the Governor’s Wyoming Grants Management Initiative – spearheaded by the Wyoming Grants Management Office (GMO) and Wyoming Grants Integration Manager Dru Palmer – was launched following last year’s summit.
“Wyoming pays its fair share of taxes into the federal treasury in the form of mineral royalties, rents, bonus bids, and highway and fuel taxes,” Governor Gordon said. “It only makes sense to bring those dollars back to Wyoming as investments in our communities.”
During his address the Governor lauded attendees for their commitment to Wyoming and commended the GMO for spearheading the summit and standing up the Wyoming Grant Assistance Program (WYGAP). Since its inception last summer, WYGAP has assisted in over 300 requests in all 23 Wyoming counties, servicing technical requests, facilitating one-on-one grant writing training, and local needs assessments to assist with planning.
“Our Grants Management Office – the GMO – is the first of its kind in the nation, standing as a visionary model for grants management,” Governor Gordon said. “Rather than deciding what communities need, the GMO is collaborative. It listens and responds to priorities identified by those it serve.”
The Governor explained his office utilized technical assistance through WYGAP, ultimately involving the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Small Business Administration to host statewide webinars for those impacted by wildfires last summer.
“Let me be very clear, even though Wyoming is actively seeking appropriate grants, we are not looking for dependency on long-term federal funding,” Governor Gordon said. “We are looking for one-time project funding to assist communities in upgrading and replacing infrastructure, particularly water and sewer issues, while also addressing economic development needs.”
The Governor concluded his remarks on a hopeful note. “This is an exciting time for Wyoming and the country under the new leadership of President Trump,” he said. “Wyoming is well-positioned to do our part in meeting the President’s goals of ‘Unleashing American Energy’ and ‘Increasing Timber Production.’”
"The Wyoming Funding Summit has been a huge success, with attendees from every county in the state attending our grant writing training and the general session to coordinate with our federal and state partners. One of the Governor's goals from the beginning was to provide resources to build capacity long-term,” Palmer said. “It is inspiring to be with so many people sharing the same vision and passion to make our communities stronger."
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