November 20, 2025 |
Photo – Graph – Courtesy Wyoming Business Council
According to a recent Wyoming Business Council survey, people want to see the state grow, with some arguing that this challenges a perception that state residents oppose development.
During the November 18th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Wyoming Business Council Chief Strategy Officer Sarah Fitzgerald presented findings from a recent survey measuring attitudes toward economic development. Fitzgerald said the Business Council is often told Wyoming residents don’t support growth.
To gauge public opinion on economic progress, the Wyoming Business Council partnered with the Tarrance Group, a Virginia-based Republican consulting firm, to conduct a statewide survey. Fitzgerald said the results appeared to dispute the perception that residents oppose growth.
The survey included 500 respondents, most from larger population centers such as Casper and Cheyenne. Fitzgerald said the results contradicted some commonly held beliefs, including the notion that Wyoming’s economy is doing fine and doesn’t need expansion. The Wyoming Business Council Chief Strategy Officer presented a graph showing that the state’s gross domestic product, or GDP, is lower than all the surrounding states.
Fitzgerald said Wyoming’s employment rates and wages may be more important economic indicators than GDP. According to the Wyoming Business Council, employment rates have stagnated. Fitzgerald added that salaries in the Cowboy State are among the lowest in the country, making it difficult to pay for basic expenses.
While the population of the state has increased in recent years, Fitzgerald said the workforce has declined. She said that many young people leave the state to find jobs soon after graduation, which has long been true.
The Wyoming Business Council’s survey of voter attitudes toward economic growth shows that 70% of respondents describe their local economy as stagnant or in decline.
Fitzgerald said many Wyoming residents believe the state is bankrupt. However, the Wyoming Business Council reports that the state’s so-called rainy-day fund of nearly $1.5 billion, the largest in the nation. Fitzgerald said state legislators could invest half of those savings into the economy and still have enough money to fund the government for nearly five months.
Fitzgerald said the Wyoming Business Council’s survey appears to contradict the belief that residents are resistant to change, with nearly two‑thirds supporting population growth if it benefits the local economy. Additionally, eight in ten respondents said they want their community to take strong action to expand the economy, and 90 percent agreed that keeping and attracting young people is essential to the state’s future.
Next, Fitzgerald said the common belief is that Wyoming residents do not support raising taxes. However, roughly one‑third of survey respondents indicated they would accept slightly higher taxes if it encouraged economic development.
Fitzgerald said many Wyoming residents believe that lower taxes increase economic opportunities. The Wyoming Business Council Chief Strategy Officer said the state’s tax rates appear to have the opposite effect.
Fitzgerald continued, saying that the Wyoming Business Council is working to address the state’s economic decline through the creation of Wyoming Labs. The proposal aims to generate jobs by inviting skilled labor back into the state with an emphasis on mining and energy extraction.
Fitzgerald cited Radiant Nuclear’s recent decision not to construct a micro-reactor manufacturing facility in Natrona County as proof that Wyoming is tough on businesses. To encourage growth, Fitzgerald urged residents to submit public comments on a proposed $500 million nuclear fuel manufacturing facility near Gillette, spearheaded by BWX Technologies out of Lynchburg, Virginia.
Commissioner Sue Jones said state lawmakers are not working to correct the situation, noting that the Wyoming Joint Revenue Committee is considering repealing the tax exemption on nuclear energy.
Commissioners John Espy and John Johnson objected to using the state’s rainy day fund to create jobs, arguing that the account is essential in Wyoming’s boom‑and‑bust economy. Instead, Commissioner Espy suggested directing a portion of the fund’s interest toward economic growth.
The Board of Carbon County Commissioners agreed that any changes must benefit all of Wyoming, not just one region.
Wyoming Business Council Chief Strategy Officer Sarah Fitzgerald said her organization will continue working to strengthen the state’s economy and plans to poll residents approximately every six months.
