The Wyoming Business Council (WBC) announced that its statewide listening tour has now engaged more than 1,000 Wyoming residents. The milestone was reached during Thursday’s virtual “Team Wyoming Huddle,” the largest single session of the tour that began in June.
Who participated
Attendees represented a cross‑section of the Cowboy State: business owners, private‑sector employees, government and nonprofit staff, educators and retirees. While opinions varied, participants largely agreed that Wyoming has room to grow and that action is needed to address pressing challenges.
Key concerns raised
During the webinar, participants used the chat and a live survey to voice their priorities. The most frequently cited issues were rising costs of living, a shortage of job and career opportunities, and limited access to essential services such as health care and affordable housing.
When asked about the potential impact of leaving these problems unaddressed, 30% of respondents said they would strongly consider moving out of Wyoming, and 19% expressed doubt that their children could enjoy a bright future in the state.
Economic outlook and priorities
WBC Chief Strategy Officer Sarah Fitz‑Gerald emphasized that the concerns are “directly impacting Wyoming residents every day” and warned that inaction could put the state in trouble. Survey results also showed that 30% of participants believe making Wyoming a competitive place to work and live should be the top priority for state leaders.
Other priorities identified included building infrastructure to support future growth, empowering local communities to guide their own development, and fostering new industries that can diversify the state’s economic base.
Leadership response
WBC CEO Josh Dorrell said the turnout demonstrates a strong desire among Wyomingites to shape their economic future. “It’s hard to ignore 1,000 people,” Dorrell said. “People from every corner of Wyoming are showing up because they care about what happens next. They see the challenges. They see the opportunity. And they’re telling us they’re ready to do something about both.”
Dorrell added that while unanimity on every solution isn’t required, a broad base of engaged citizens is essential for moving forward. “More than 1,000 people have raised their hands and said, ‘I care about what happens to Wyoming, and I want to be part of it,’” he said, expressing optimism for the state’s future.
Next steps
The WBC plans additional listening sessions across Wyoming, inviting all residents to share their perspectives. Recordings of the statewide discussion and live poll results are available online for those who could not attend.
WBC CEO Josh Dorrell will discuss the findings on Sheridan Media’s “Public Pulse” with host Floyd Whiting on Monday, Aug. 31 at 9:30 a.m., offering further insight into the survey data and the council’s plans for addressing the identified challenges.
Original reporting: Sheridan Media (Sheridan WY) — read the source article.
