1. ¼ - CENT S ALES T AX B UILDS J OBS

2. Economic Development Sales Tax REQUEST A PPROVE AN OPTIONAL QUARTER - CENT SALES TAX FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT THE GENERAL ELECTION IN N OVEMBER 2010 ¢

3.  2006 Goshen County adopted an optional sales tax for economic development for a two- year period  Leveraged local sales tax funds 7:1  Allowed Goshen County to be competitive with larger communities when contending for the UW – GE Energy Coal Research Center H ISTORY ¢

4. F UNDAMENTALS OF E CONOMIC D EVELOPMENT  Encourage job growth  6.4% unemployment rate in Goshen County – the highest in 12 years  Success of existing businesses is top priority for GCEDC ¢

5. A CCOUNTABILITY  Is a nonprofit organization created in 1987 to create jobs, encourage business growth, and build on local community assets  Keeps a separate accounting of all sales tax funds  Enjoys strong support from local business and industry, city and county government and the citizens of Goshen County ¢ Goshen County Economic Development Corp.

6. A P ROVEN T RACK R ECORD  Instrumental in developing and obtaining financing for Goshen County fairgrounds  Creating a community-owned cooperative, Our Clothing Store  Supporting the development of Heartland BioComposites, which operates today as Natures Composites  Recruiting the Wyoming Medium Correctional Facility  Obtaining financing for the Alzheimer’s Unit  Assisting in obtaining grant funding for the new Lincoln Center  Founding the Goshen County 2-Shot Goose Hunt ¢ Goshen County Economic Development Corp.

7. Business Development Blue Sun Biodiesel GE Energy/UW USE: USE: engineering, survey, research, etc. CustomizedProposals

8. Business Development ACTION: ACTION: Develop Cold Springs Business Park UW-GE  Companies looking for site served by public water and wastewater  Shovel-ready  Highway access  Room for expansion Lessons Learned

9. Business Development Cold Springs Business Park  66 acres – located on Highway 85  19 lots  Goal is to add 200 jobs in the next 20 years  Tax benefits = $7.5 million  First tenant – Schlagel Mfg.

10. Business Development Schlagel Manufacturing  A Wyoming Corporation in its 15 th year  Designs and manufacturers agricultural farm equipment, metal art, and pickup accessories  Has outgrown its current facilities  Will increase from 22 to 36 jobs Leveraged$3,000,000

11. Community Development  A community, cultural and business center  4 suites available for lease on second floor  Community library  Computer lab  Museum  Break/conference room  Fitness center Leveraged$1,355,944 Before After LaGrangeHeritageSquare

12. Community Development Hawk Springs CommunityBuilding  Historic preservation  Community gathering place Leveraged$300,000

13. Community Development Goshen County Housing Study  Assessment included:  Demographic trends  Housing stock challenges  Homeownership options  Rental housing availability  Elderly population trends  Special needs households  Race, ethnicity, and housing  Economic impact analysis of opening of WMCI  Goshen County Housing Survey  Scottsbluff/Gering housing market P URPOSE : P URPOSE : to assess the gap between the existing housing supply and the number of housing units needed Helping Goshen County establish housing and funding priorities.

14. Community Development Grants and Matching Funds  Fort Laramie Rendezvous  Town of LaGrange  Hawk Springs Community Building Association  Torrington Retail Merchants Association  Oregon Trail Historic By-way  Platte Valley Young Professionals Network

15. Conclusion ¢  Without economic development sales tax, Goshen County has very limited resources to stimulate the economy  Optional sales tax is necessary for economic development to initiate business development and community enhancement projects for a greater impact in all communities