Karla's Kolumn

Thursday’s Worland-Ten Sleep Chamber of Commerce networking and awards luncheon was a great opportunity for people to be reminded that there is a lot of good going on right now in Worland Washakie County.

“Working together we can be successful.” Those were the words Washakie County Commission Chairman Terry Wolf said in opening the luncheon.

And, for the most part, three of the county’s economic development organizations do work together.

Chamber Executive Director Jenn Rasmussen said she and Washakie Development Association Executive Director LeAnn Baker work together quite a bit to assist current businesses. Both organizations are nonprofit 501-c-6, which is different than 501-c-3, in that they are allowed to lobby.

Baker said the WDA’s mission is “to involve the community to promote future economic growth and stability while protecting our values.”

She said the WDA’s focus is on recruiting businesses that employ a livable wage, which for Washakie County is $13.50.

Rasmussen said the chamber’s main goal is to be a liaison between the businesses and the community and businesses and the world.

Jonna Abel of the Worland-Ten Sleep Visitor Council said their focus is “heads and beds.” Through the lodging tax, approved by voters, the visitor council can promote events in the area that bring people into Washakie County to visit.

Those are three organizations with one main goal in mind — to help Washakie County grow and prosper.

And, while things can at times look bleak with stores closing and Wyoming Sugar having a tough processing season, Baker reminded the nearly 100 in attendance that there are many positives in the county. She challenged those in attendance the next time they are somewhere and hear a naysayer talking about how bad things are, to remind them of how good things are in the county.

Wyoming Sugar, despite having a rough processing season, celebrated 100 years of operation and Richard McKamey said they are looking forward to another 100 years. He reminded those in attendance that the community supported the factory to help it become grower owned.

Good things come when people work together and support one another.

RT Communications, honored as the 2016 Large Business of the Year, invested in Wyoming and Washakie County when US West (now Qwest) wanted out of dealing with small markets. RT has recently completed upgrades to their fiber optic network, investing in and planning for the Worland’s future.

The Small Business Winner, Worland Vision Clinic is remodeling their office, showing their confidence in Worland’s economy and business in Washakie County.

Other businesses have also shown they are willing to expand or invest and new businesses are cropping up — St. Alban’s Born Again moved down the street to a larger facility; Cupcakes and Crumbs, a fairly new business to Worland, catered the luncheon; Alpine Medical in Cody saw a need and a future in opening a store here in Worland; the Bains invested in their future and Worland’s future when they purchased NAPA from Rocky Core who was ready to retire; and Banner Health and Washakie County are investing in the health care future with a newly renovated hospital to be completed by the end of this year.

There’s also new businesses working on getting open soon — the Ten Sleep Rock Ranch, Stogie Joes LLC at the old A&W, O’Reilly has submitted plans for a new store, just to name a few.

And when it comes down to it, while we may have moved here for different reasons, we live here because we think it’s a great place and it’s up to all of us to keep it great.

So, while Worland, Washakie County and Wyoming may go through some rough patches now and then, Terry Wolf had it right, together we can be successful, when we support and help one another including our hometown businesses.

Congrats to those honored Thursday and to all of our business owners for investing in Worland, Ten Sleep and Washakie County.