(a) The Wyoming Business Council Regional Director is available to assist applicants with the development of projects and preparation of applications.
(b) An application shall be reviewed by the Council staff to determine eligibility and completeness. An application that is determined by the Council staff to be incomplete shall be provided and explanation of the findings in writing within fifteen (15) working days of its receipt where practical.
(c) The Council staff may, at its expense, a qualified third party to verify project cost estimate and structural stability of the project facility. In addition, the Council staff may, at its expenses, hire a qualified third party to determine if any environmental hazards exist and to determine the condition of the facility or building components such as the plumbing, electrical, roof and mechanical systems.
(d) An application that is complete shall be forwarded by the Council staff with a recommendation to the Council for review.
(e) The Council staff shall publish statewide notice of Council and Board meetings at which Business Ready Grant and Loan Program applications will be discussed.
(f) The Council shall prioritize proposed grants and loans it recommends to the Board. The score is not intended to be the only basis for a final recommendation by the Council or award decision by the Board. The final recommendation and award decision on grant and loan proposals shall be at the discretion of the Council and Board respectively. As a method to assist the Board prioritizing grant and loan proposals, Council staff will use the following scoring system: - (i) Financial Preparedness: (Total 20 points)
- (A) Clear understanding of equipment costs, operational costs, and maintenance costs (10 points).
- (B) Clear identification of sources of ongoing funding for equipment, operations and maintenance (10 points). No project scoring less than five (5) in this category would receive funding.
- (ii) Additional Considerations: Council staff will also assess grant and loan loans in the following areas and report results to the Board;
- (A) Historic or cultural significance of the project facility and the extent to which the project facility will preserve or enhance that significance.
- (B) Extent to which the project facility is intended primarily for youth.
- (C) Extent to which the project facility fulfills community quality of life goals as identified in a community or economic development plan, community assessment, or other documentation of community vision goals.
- (D) Extent to which the project fulfills economic development goals as identified in economic development plans, or other documentation of economic development strategy.
- (E) Extent to which the applicant will utilize a variety of funding sources to finance the project facility. This may include but is not limited to, sources such as historic tax credits, private donations, and federal funding.
- (F) Extent to which the applicant demonstrates how the project will increase economic development opportunities.
- (iii) Community Facility Business Plan: see Chapter 2, Section 1(g). The Community Facility Business Plan should reflect a level of detail appropriate for the type and use(s) of proposed facility. Plans will be assessed on:
- (A) The extent to which the applicant has partnered with other agencies, non-profit organizations, community development organizations in developing the Community Facility Business Plan and how those partnerships support the long-term viability of the facility.
- (B) Experience of the applicant or partners in managing other community facilities or similar programs.
- (C) Demonstration in marketing plan for the facility of knowledge of market area, people to be served, and marketing campaigns.
085-1 Wyo. Code R. § 1-12