April newsletter

Thank you, CATALYST Level Members!

From the CEO POINTS TO PONDER

Recently we encouraged our members to contact the Fremont County Commission to express their need for commercial air service at Central Wyoming Regional Airport (RIW) in Riverton. Several questions arose from our call to action, and I’d like to share the answers here with a broader audience.

What is the Minimum Revenue Guarantee and why is it needed?

The Minimum Revenue Guarantee (MRG) is the amount of money guaranteed by a municipality or county to cover the shortfall of operating in rural markets. Here in Fremont County, the total cost to operate an airline is approximately $8.4 million, which includes station costs, fuel, airframe costs, employees, overhead, etc. Our market generates approximately $4.8 million in revenue to cover the cost of commercial air service, which leaves an MRG of approximately $3.6 million for the community to cover.

Does the MRG cover one or two daily flights?

The request for funding addresses the contractual amount for two daily round trip flights between Riverton and Denver, not only the existing one round trip flight. This will allow the community to respond promptly to the opportunity to add capacity as soon as SkyWest makes it available. There are indications that SkyWest soon will provide a second daily flight, at least for a few days each week.

We just passed a ½% Economic Development Sales Tax to help pay for the MRG. Why are more funds needed?

The tax allocates 20% of the revenues collected to securing commercial air service at RIW. Since that time, the operational costs (plane, pilots, and fuel) to maintain that service have nearly doubled, leaving a funding shortfall. Lander, Riverton, and Fremont County have agreed to provide the additional funding necessary to make up the shortfall.

Is the tax being diverted to other purposes?

No. The revenue collected can be used only for transportation (air and bus) and economic development. The revenue remains completely separate from other government accounts and cannot be used for other projects. Voters will have the opportunity either to extend or sunset the tax in 2024.

Questions or comments?

Contact me at 307-332-3892 or owen@landerchamber.org.

Owen Sweeney CEO

Lander Chamber of Commerce

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President

Ann Espinosa

Home Source Realty

Vice President

Dave Fehringer

Fremont Engineering & Surveying Services

Treasurer

Chris VonHoltum

Central Bank & Trust

Past President

Eric Andrews

Summit West CPA Group

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tom Davis

Fremont Therapy Group

Jennifer Hamilton

SageWest Healthcare

Jenna Ackerman

Associate Real Estate Broker

Justin Hegwer

Farm Bureau Financial Services

Brian Rohrbacher

Atlantic City Fed. Credit Union

Joseph Susanka

Wyoming Catholic College

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

Owen Sweeney CEO

Carol King

Associate Director

Carlos Solis

Brewfest Coordinator

Murray Ritland

Membership Coordinator

Get Connected ~ Stay Connected!

April 20: Melissahof

Hatchery

May 18: Benessere Clinic

March Business After Hours was hosted by Mountain Vista Retirement Residence

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

What do you know about chickens?

Come out to the Business After Hours at Melissahof on the Lower North Fork to tour Melissa Hemken’s pastured heritage poultry farm and chick hatchery. Yes, it’s spring, and there will be baby chicks!

The hors d’oeuvres menu will highlight foods grown and produced in Lander. The people behind the foodsour farmers, ranchers, bakers and chefs - will join Melissa to visit with Chamber members about Lander’s local food and agriculture businesses.

Please wear farm-appropriate footwear and clothing to match the weather at this outdoor evening event. Also, please carpool with other Chamber members due to limited parking.

Directions: 101 Lower North Fork Road

Drive north out of Lander on Hwy. 287 and turn Right at Milford Junction onto Lower North Fork Road. Go a mile down the road, past the gravel pit and red barn on the Right. The next place on the Right is a white house. Turn into the second driveway in front of the white house by the white shed with the green roof. It’s the driveway with the chicken mailbox in a lick tub. Drive straight back to the log cabin.

Melissa Hemken, 307-709-1525, www.melissahemken.com, www.melissahof.com

Community Awards Winners 2023!

Anchor Award Allen’s Diamond 4 Ranch Jim Allen, with daughter Christin and granddaughter

Spirit of Lander

Deanna Trumble (right) with Wyoming First Lady Jennie Gordon

Beautification Award Scott and Lesley Robeson

Welcome Home/Scott Robeson Custom Woodworking

Lifetime Contribution Rick Fagnant, Summit West CPA Group

Lander Ambassador of the Year Bob Tipton, left, with Ambassador President Brian Rohrbacher

Chamber of Commerce Past President Eric Andrews

Rookie of the Year Anam Cara Caregiving, Sarah Wilzbacher, owner, center with award, with staff members

EVERY TUESDAY

Carnegie Book Nook at the Lander Library 1-5 pm

EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY

The Rock Church Life Center

10 am-5:30 pm, climbing: 4-5:30 pm

EVERY WEDNESDAY

Rotary Club noon, Oxbow Restaurant

Power Punch Parkinson’s classes, noon-1 pm, Teton Therapy Lander

FIRST THURSDAY

Parkinson’s Support Group, Lander Senior Cntr 2-3 pm (no meeting in March)

EVERY THURSDAY

Kiwanis Club, noon, Mamaw’s Kitchen @ Inn at Lander (formerly Summit)

EVERY FRIDAY

Carnegie Book Nook at the Lander Library noon-4 pm

EVERY SATURDAY

Improv Acoustic Music Jams Lander Art Center 10 am-noon

1 Met Opera “Falstaff” Lander Library 10:30 am

1-15 Red Desert Audubon Show Lander Art Center, Tu-Th 10-6, Fr-Sa 10-4

3-4 Grant Writing Online Workshop both days 9 am-4 pm, online via Zoom: https://info.landerchamber. org/events/details/grantwriting-online-workshop-day-1of-2-30581

4, 18 Open Poetry Lander Art Center, 6-8 pm

7 First Friday Participating Lander businesses, 6-8 pm

11, 25 Slam Poetry Lander Art Center, 6-8 pm

12 Surgical Sleep Apnea Solution Webinar 6-7 pm, online via Zoom, register: https://info.landerchamber.org/ events/details/st-john-s-healthsurgical-sleep-apnea-solutionwebinar-april-12-30598

13 What’s That Stuff Called Air Dubois Museum, 7 pm

15 Met Opera “Der Rosenkavalier” Lander Library 10 am

21 Inter-Tribal Tourism Summit Wind River Indian Reservation, 8 am-10 pm, for more info visit uwyo.edu/worth/itts.html

21 Kids Corner: Scat, Tracks and Skulls Dubois Museum, 10-11 am

April Events CALENDAR

22 Garden Expo 2023 Lander Valley High School, 9 am-3 pm

22 A ‘70s Time Capsule Riverton Museum, 11 am

24-30 Student Select Show Lander Art Center, Tu-Th 10-6, Fr-Sa 10-4

29 Sheep Shearing Day Pioneer Museum, 1-3 pm

29 Met Opera “Champion” Lander Library, 10:55 am

29 Dancing With The Stars Lander Community Center 5:30pm

Promote Your Business on the Lander Biz Show!

Last year, your Lander Chamber of Commerce struck out into new territory by starting its own radio show and podcast -- the Lander Biz Show -- for you, our members!

Let us put your business in the spotlight!

Chamber CEO Owen Sweeney and County 10’s

Charene Herrera interview a Lander Chamber member every week, airing the conversation on local radio and on County 10’s and the Chamber’s websites and social media channels to make sure thousands of Fremont County residents learn about your business!

Most memberships include one appearance each year

If you are a member of the Lander Chamber at the Cultivator Level or above, your benefits include an annual appearance on the Lander Biz Show! (A discounted fee is available for our Classic Level members.) Recordings are scheduled every other Wednesday between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Contact us today to schedule your appearance on the award-winning Lander Biz Show!

Thank You, Renewing Members!

Bailey Enterprises, Inc., 811 S Federal Blvd, Riverton

Clark’s Landscaping, PO Box 1204, Lander

Child Development Services of Fremont County, 100 Push Root Court, Lander

Homestead Properties, 288 Cascade St., Lander

J&S Enterprises LLC, PO Box 1333, Lander

Lander Valley Animal Hospital, 1185 Hwy 287 N, Lander

Lander Valley Farmers Market, PO Box 184

Maz’s House & Mobile Home Movers, 420 Fremont St., Lander

NAPA Auto Parts Inc., 391 Main St., Lander

New York Life Insurance, 592 Main St., Ste B, Lander

Porter’s Mountain View Supply Inc., 750 E. Sunset Dr., Riverton

Rocky Mountain Power, 2840 E Yellowstone Hwy, Casper

Shirts & More Inc., 1720 Main St., Suite C, Lander

Smith Creek Pet Resort, 116 Chittim Road, Lander

Wind River Visitors Council, 100 N 1st St., Lander

Wyoming Life Resource Center, 8204 N Hwy 789, Lander

Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine, Kati Hime, 1957 N 16th St., Laramie

NEW MEMBERS

Advantage Accounting Services

Jordan Sarmo, 1015 McDougall Dr., Lander

Alzheimer’s Association - WY Chapter

Debra Antista-Bianchi, Executive Director

2232 Dell Range Blvd, Cheyenne

Hampton Inn & Suites Riverton

Ryan Preston, General Manager 2500 N Federal Blvd, Riverton

Lander Recycle

Chase McFadden

1215 Buena Vista Dr., Lander

Melissahof Hatchery

Melissa Hemken

101 Lower North Fork Road, Lander

Sol Cleaning Service

Carlos Solis PO Box 1592, Lander

Wind River Outpost LLC

Mike Strasser 23 Tweed Lane, Lander

Book Your Next Meeting at the Chamber!

Looking for a brighter, roomier, more professional and technologically advanced place to host a meeting? The Chamber’s got you covered!

Full Zoom Room Functionality

Our two DTEN video conferencing boards provide our members with a simplified professional meeting experience. The dual setup provides a multi-touch video display alongside a digital whiteboard that allows live onscreen annotation of documents and content sharing.

Contact Us to Reserve Your Meeting Today!

You don’t need a Zoom account to take advantage of this benefit. Chamber members without their own Zoom license can use ours to host meetings with unlimited minutes for up to 100 participants. Member-only rental pricing makes this an affordable benefit for your business, and conference room is included in some memberships. Contact us today to schedule your meeting!

Sol Cleaning Service

Sol Cleaning Service, owned by Carlos Solis, offers professional residential, business, Airbnb and apartment cleaning services.

Services include general cleaning of bathrooms, kitchens, vacuuming, windows and disinfecting. Deep cleaning includes baseboards, smudges on oors, doors, light xtures and more. Airbnb options include restocking food, owers, decorations and hospitable items.

We aim to give everyone in Fremont County peace of mind whenever they walk into their home or their business. Contact Sol Cleaning Service on Facebook. com/solservicelander, WhatsApp, email solservicelander@gmail.com or call Carlos at 916-9343591.

Sinks Canyon State Park

Jessica Moore has been appointed the new superintendent of Sinks Canyon State Park, replacing Jamie Simonson who recently retired. Jessica earned her master’s of science from Michigan State University.

Sinks Canyon State Park is located just south of Lander in the Wind River Mountains on the middle fork of the Popo Agie River.

The Sinks, where the Popo Agie River disappears into a limestone cavern, and The Rise, where the river reappears a quarter mile down the canyon, is a great place to view millions of years of geologic history. The park is open yearround 6 am-10 pm. The Visitors Center is open May 19 through September 17, 9 am-5 pm.

COLLABORATOR Investors