City asked to fund retail survey

The Rock Springs Business and Economic Development Alliance and the city of Rock Springs is applying for a $50,000 grant from the Wyoming Business Council to conduct a Sweetwater County-wide retail gap analysis.

They are asking for support from the city of Green River and other entities in the form of monetary funds of up to $5,555 and a letter of support; monetary amounts are not official.

“We support the idea to entertain the possibility of providing some sort of funding,” Mayor Pete Rust said. “We took action to give support. There is no determined fee, and we did not commit to any particular fee.”

A retail gap analysis examines the various retail sectors in a community, and what retail services a community demands for each sector of retail, as well as if there is a lack of services in a sector, or too much available.

The overall purpose of the project, according to council documents, is to enhance the county-wide sales tax, create jobs, and improve the quality of life by offering more opportunities for the residents of Sweetwater County.

“We took action to support the notion of what is going on. We didn’t commit any funds, we did commit support,” Rust said.

By conducting the research, a county-wide business and economic development plan can be made that will focus on filling existing gaps without being overly redundant in retail services.

The retail gap analysis project includes a variety of business and economic objectives to improve upon in Sweetwater County.

The study will also help officials understand the current retail and restaurant economic conditions, and be able to provide consumer behavioral insight.

After requiring the knowledge, goals include recruiting new retailers and restaurants to the area, and strengthening and maintaining local businesses.

Dave Hanks, CEO of the Rock Springs Chamber said the study will tell us where the county’s potential to grow is, as well as a better use the community’s assets, and provide the community’s existing business a chance to expand their market.

“The beautiful thing of doing the gap analysis is the ability to look at Green River and Rock Springs separately and see what specifically would benefit that community,” Hanks said. “It will identify those wants and needs of our community as a whole.”