TORRINGTON – Lauren Schoenfield, executive director of Wyoming Innovation Partnership, presented the state’s workforce development strategies during a Torrington Rotary Club meeting Wednesday at the Cottonwood Country Club, detailing both current programs and the organization’s transition to the Wyoming Business Alliance.
The meeting included guests Dr. Stephen Howard and Dr. Steve Peasling.
Introduced by Wally Wolski, a longtime club member, Schoenfield traced the partnership’s origins, explaining it emerged as a key initiative from Governor Mark Gordon immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Governor really wanted to focus on collaboration across higher education institutions,” she told the audience.
The initiative has invested approximately $70 million in programs targeting critical sectors including energy, healthcare, agriculture, tourism, hospitality, manufacturing, digital infrastructure, technology and entrepreneurship. “We looked at the different categories necessary for workforce and workforce development, training and education across the state of Wyoming,” Schoenfield explained.
Eastern Wyoming College has participated in multiple partnership programs. The institution has expanded Certified Nursing Assistant and Medical Assistant programs, which have enrolled over 150 students across Douglas and Torrington, with 148 completing their training.
“Healthcare is one of those very base level needs, and it continues to be a huge area of workforce need across the state,” she said. The program has developed over 20 clinical partnerships.
The college’s precision agriculture program, developed in partnership with the University of Wyoming and supported by local 4-H and FFA programs, has engaged over 1,000 K-12 students and 25 businesses. The mobile agronomy laboratory showcases technologies in autonomous machining, data collection and crop fuel optimization.
The program has achieved 1,721 post-secondary enrollments, developed 39 new programs, secured 460 internships and facilitated 1,901 industry engagements. “Internships are so important to keeping our students from Wyoming in Wyoming and connecting them with business and industry,” Schoenfield said.
The Wyoming Innovation Partnership is transitioning to the Wyoming Business Alliance, a membership organization providing advocacy and support for businesses and industries. Schoenfield clarified the distinction between the Business Alliance and the Wyoming Business Council during her presentation.
“The business council is a quasi-governmental agency,” she explained. The council can partner through state agencies to bring funding opportunities to businesses and projects in communities across Wyoming.
The council administers the Business Ready Communities grant program, which includes planning grants and project grants. The council is building a venture capital fund for entrepreneurs and invests in community assets to help private business and industry grow and expand.
Schoenfield cited the Sweetwater County Airport as an example of a project receiving Business Ready Communities grant funding. Wyoming’s constitution does not allow direct funding to private businesses, but the council’s infrastructure investments stimulate economic growth throughout the state.
The Business Council employs regional staff who support projects and programs across Wyoming, whether they receive funding or not, by providing resources and connections in different communities. The council also conducts research on community problems and develops economic solutions.
“They are very separate entities. They do two very separate roles,” Schoenfield said of the Business Alliance and Business Council. “And they also work together in different areas.”
Josh Durrell serves as CEO of the Wyoming Business Council.
The Governor’s Business Forum is scheduled for Nov. 11-13 at the University of Wyoming.
“We’re looking at how we build a very strong workforce to meet the needs of our Wyoming businesses,” Schoenfield said. “And how do we do it collaboratively, while bringing in some federal support?”
Club President Lisa Johnson announced next week’s meeting would feature Justin Loeffler from Wyoming Hemp Company.
The meeting concluded with a tour of Eastern Wyoming College’s mobile agronomy laboratory, led by Martin Winchell, with Schoenfield available to answer additional questions.
