Wyoming Gov Proposes Tech-Related Business Funding Expansion

To bring more tech-related companies and jobs to Wyoming, Gov. Matt Mead's budget request for the new biennium adds $15 million to broaden an existing fund established last year for the recruitment of mega data centers. If approved by the legislature, the state would make available $30 million for both large-scale recruitment and to attract smaller technology companies. Anticipating flat growth over the next two years, the budget for 2013-14 proposes a slight reduction in ongoing spending from last biennium. However, the governor recommends expanding an appropriation for data center recruitment to provide the state with more opportunity to attract large-scale high technology opportunities and jobs. In February, Gov. Mead signed a measure providing tax incentives for construction of data centers.

Gov. Mead also outlined an investment strategy that restructures the state's Abandoned Mine Land (AML) funds to implement new areas of concentration for energy research and related projects. The budget proposes appropriations from two AML sources: prior balance funds from the federal government directed toward transportation, environmental and wildlife projects, and previously authorized funds for energy-related projects. The governor would re-designate $45.2 million in previously authorized AML funds as follows: 

• $20.4 million for the University of Wyoming's School of Energy Resources (SER) operations — a $1 million increase to support advanced features of an Energy Resource Center building and to implement research functions of a new Center for Advanced Conversion Technology;
• $10 million for the SER to focus on expansion of research and expertise by implementing new strategic areas of concentration; $10 million to leverage energy partnership matching funds from the energy industry for cutting-edge research and to support the SER's new focus areas;
• $2 million to initiate a carbon dioxide pipeline network permitting process across federal lands;
• $1 million to continue research related to carbon storage and enhanced oil recovery;
• $1 million for a compressed natural gas vehicle filling station and vehicle conversions; and, 
• $850,154 for renovations and additions to the UW Engineering Building.

Gov. Mead's 2013-14 Biennial Budget is available at: http://ai.state.wy.us/budget/PDF/20132014Budget/IndividualBienniumState….