TORRINGTON – The highlight of Tuesday’s Goshen County Commissioners meeting was Goshen County Economic Development CEO Ashley Harpstreith’s summarization of a $50,000, 600 page targeted marketing report funded by a grant from the Wyoming Business Council.
The report was researched and prepared by Northstar Destination Strategies, the company that also prepared Goshen County’s branding study a few years ago. Ultimately, the purpose of a targeted marketing report is to identify a community’s strengths and what businesses and industries would be fit into the community profile for future development.
An original targeted market report was compiled almost 15 years ago, but due to changing technology, population patterns and economic conditions, the Wyoming Business Council and Southeast Wyoming Economic Development District advised that Goshen County undertake an
updated study.
Representatives from every Goshen County government entity attended the 40 minute presentation, including Fort Laramie, Lingle, Torrington, LaGrange, Yoder and
Goshen County.
Among the county’s assets, the report pointed to the fact Goshen County is the largest agricultural producer in Wyoming and is home to the largest cattle auction in the state. In addition, the climate is conducive to many types of industry and the economy of the county is less dependent on the booms and busts of the
energy industry.

Also included in those assets was Eastern Wyoming College, the quality of life and the lower costs of living and doing business.
However, along with the strengths come the challenges Goshen County faces in drawing new businesses and industries, including location, a small and relatively unskilled workforce, lack of amenities and access to broadband.
Harpstreith said research for the report showed that 85 percent of the population of the United States has access to broadband speeds of 25 mbps or faster and that in Wyoming, 72 percent of the population have access to 25 mbps speeds. However, in Goshen County, no one, zero percent of the population have access to broadband at those speeds.
Even with the challenges Goshen County faces in attracting new business, Harpstreith said the report helped develop more than 150 prospective contacts who fit the business profile of a company that might thrive in Goshen County.
At one point early in her presentation, Harpstreith told the group that just one industry change in the county could shock the entire local economy and added that she wasn’t at liberty to discuss any details, but GCEDC is currently working on a $100 million project that would bring 75 new jobs and change the economy in
Goshen County.
For more information on the 2017 Targeted Marketing Report for Goshen County, contact Ashley Harpstreith at the GCEDC office, (307)
532-5162.
In other business:
• The commissioners approved a resolution to support the Wyoming Water Development Commission’s level II study of the Platte Alliance Water Supply project and the formation of governance for a regional water system.
• Goshen County Planner Gary Childs reminded the commissioners that two future public hearings have been scheduled. The first is a public hearing on the proposed wind farm regulations for Tuesday, July 18 during the regular commissioners meeting and the second is for the proposed annexing parts of the Four Corners Road to make the entire road a county road. That public hearing is slated for Tuesday, August 1 during the regular commissioners’ meeting.
• Shelly Kirchhefer, Goshen County Emergency Management Coordinator, shared ideas for signage for the August solar eclipse that would help visitors navigate their visit to the county to view the eclipse. She said GCEDC would work to secure a grant for the signs.
• The commissioners approved to change the scheduled July 4 meeting to Wednesday, July 5 at 9 a.m.
•The next scheduled meeting of the Goshen County Commissioners in Tuesday, June 20 at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse.