Tuesday, March 3, 2026 |
Photo – Sign at the entrance to Hanna – Bigfoot99 file photo
Hanna officials will apply for grant money to buy new wayfinding signs after agreeing on a design.
On February 23rd, the Hanna Town Council held a special meeting to, among other items, finalize an application for a Destination Development grant. Town Clerk Vivian Gonzales said the purpose of the workshop was to determine the type and number of signs the Council wanted.
Every two years, the Wyoming Office of Tourism reinvests a portion of state tourism dollars into the community through its Destination Development grant program. The Carbon County Visitors Council, also known as Discover Carbon County, submits applications to the state agency on behalf of local municipalities. For example, Saratoga’s representative to the Carbon County Visitors Council, Ellie Dana, will request Destination Development funding for improvements to river access at the Hobo Hot Springs. The Town of Hanna is requesting tourism dollars to install wayfinding signs. During the 2024 grant cycle, Hanna officials requested funding to install a new sprinkler system at Energy Park on the southwest side of town.
At the February 23rd work session, Hanna Mayor Charlie George suggested highlighting the town’s existing points of interest.
Councilman David Felix asked if a sign could be installed on Highway 30, listing the town’s attractions. Clerk Gonzalez explained that the Destination Development grant will not cover that type of project. The signs would need to be within town limits and the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s rights-of-way.
Councilman Sam Sikes suggested adding a sign on Jefferson Road directing visitors to the Seminoe Reservoir and Miracle Mile. However, Councilman Sikes said a similar plan had been reviewed in the past, but the Bureau of Land Management required the marker to meet very specific requirements.
Councilman Felix recommended requesting eight wayfinding signs through the Destination Development grant: two standard road signs pointing to the Hanna Basin Museum and six larger signs directing visitors to other points of interest.
The Town Council agreed that the signs should be orange and blue to match the Hanna Miners’ team colors. Next, the discussion turned to the type and specific location for each of the six larger wayfinding signs. Clerk Gonzales said the final specifications must be approved by WYDOT, adding that the state agency has the authority to remove the signs at its discretion, an eventuality she hopes never occurs.
In the end, the Hanna Town Council chose to request eight orange and blue wayfinding signs through the Wyoming Office of Tourism’s Destination Development grant program. The final design and placement will be determined by the town’s selected sign maker and WYDOT. If approved, the funding will be awarded during the next grant cycle in 2028.
