July 8, 2021
Laramie, Wyo. — As part of its monthly People’s Review: LIVE! series, the Equality State Policy Center will host an online discussion with four prominent members of the team charged with developing the strategy to deploy federal COVID-relief funds and other resources and spur Wyoming’s post-pandemic recovery.
Panelists, all part of Governor Gordon’s handpicked “Strike Team,” will discuss their monthslong effort with the Governor’s policy staff, cabinet, and other stakeholders on Survive, Drive, Thrive, a new proposal to help Wyoming recover now — and flourish in the long term.
The roundtable discussion, “Roadmap to Recovery: The Governor’s Guide to a Post-Pandemic Wyoming” will take place from 5-6 p.m. on Thursday, July 15 via Zoom. The event is free and open to the public, and people can register online at https://equalitystate.org/the-peoples-review/ to receive an invitation to participate live.
“It is an incredible responsibility to be a part of the process of investing in Wyoming with the American Rescue Plan Act funds,” said Director Robin Sessions Cooley of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. “Fortunately, excellent ideas have been brought forward from people living in communities all over Wyoming. With this critical input, these resources will be put to use in a strategic way, strengthening Wyoming families and our economy for many years to come.”
The governor’s proposal highlights a number of short-term needs, including funding mental health and substance abuse services and identifying areas that would benefit from enhanced broadband connectivity. Long-term goals identified for further study and planning include activating new economic sectors and creating new jobs, and retaining and attracting working families and young adults to permanently live and raise families in Wyoming.
The proposal comes as ESPC promotes Wyoming Women as Economic Drivers, a nonpartisan policy report produced in partnership with the Wyoming Women’s Foundation and the Wyoming Council for Women that highlights the crucial role women play in the Equality State’s economy.
“There’s a lot of overlap with the Governor’s proposal,” said Jen Simon, ESPC senior policy advisor and the report’s lead author. “There are a lot of places where our policy recommendations dovetail with the Governor’s goals. As Wyoming looks toward recovery, we’ll be urging policymakers to lead the way in ensuring that our state’s workforce attracts and retains employees equitably, across all sectors.”
“Roadmap to Recovery” will feature Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Director Robin Sessions Cooley; Cody Mayor and Wyoming Association of Municipalities President Matt Hall; Wyoming Department of Family Services Director Korin Schmidt, and Wyoming County Commissioners Association President Jim Willox.
###
The Equality State Policy Center is a nonpartisan, nonprofit coalition of 29 labor, social justice, and conservation organizations. ESPC’s mission is to improve the lives of all Wyoming’s people through transparent government, fair elections, and thriving communities.