Planning for growth

The City of Green River is looking to create a new economic development position in the near future.

Green River City Administrator Reed Clevenger spoke briefly about the desire to hire an economic development specialist during the July 16 City Council meeting. In the same meeting, the council also approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Sweetwater Economic Development Coalition (SEDC) and the City of Rock Springs. During the meeting, Clevenger explained that the city has participated in this agreement for the past several years. He also mentioned that the council had discussed approving a local economic development position.

When asked to elaborate on what the position would consist of and how it would connect to the city's relationship with the SEDC, Clevenger explained that the city has been considering how best to address local growth. Following the URA Main Street program issues last year, according to Clevenger, the city held the funding previously allocated and worked with the City Council to outline a more comprehensive type of position that could help in multiple areas. 

"We looked at everything from another Main Street position, an event planner, to a full-on economic developer," Clevenger explained. "As we continued to work with SEDC and our other government partners in the county and state, we realized that we need to have more bandwidth in community and economic development, specifically as it relates to Green River and the positive outcomes this role could have on advancing those developments."

Clevenger further laid out the importance of this position and more specifically what it could mean for the future success of the partnership with SEDC.

"While we do have representation on the board for SEDC, the work itself is through one person with a county and multi-county focus," he said. "We believe that SEDC should be a larger presence overall, especially with the growth expected over the next few years. However, this would be something that the three entities would have to agree with and how it would be funded."

The desire to have a more focused approach to Green River itself is another motivation behind the decision for a city position.

"While at the same time having a more macro focus, we believe there also needs to be a more granular focus specific to Green River," Clevenger added. "This thought process would allow for a position that could be a part of connecting all the resources out there to our specific needs, versus having multiple people on multiple boards disseminating information as they get it."

After working closely with the council over the past year on the possibilities, Clevenger has focused on the importance of this position being multifaceted.

"The position developed into a hybrid position that will be complimentary to SEDC while working more specifically on Green River needs," Clevenger explained.

He added that the position would work with local organizations like the Green River Chamber and local businesses, also focusing on community development in areas like housing, expansion, and zoning. An economic development specialist could also work closely with volunteer groups focused on URA and Main Street, as well as "tying in our marketing efforts with events in our area specifically related to Green River and our quality of life we want highlighted."

Clevenger expressed his optimism for this new position with a projected upturn in business and industry throughout Sweetwater County and more importantly in Green River.

"We see this role evolving with the expected industry growth and with the ancillary businesses and jobs that would come with that growth," he said. "The thought process is that this could develop into a broader community development department needing the more specific positions of event planner, Main Street director, etc., down the road if expected growth is realized."