2024 Governor’s Business Forum wrapped up with keynote
Gov. Mark Gordon and First Lady Jennie Gordon presented to conference attendees during the Wyoming Business Alliance’s (WBA) 2024 Governor’s Business Forum at the University of Wyoming (UW) in Laramie on Nov. 12-14.
The First Lady presented an update on the Wyoming Hunger Initiative (WHI), which is addressing and finding solutions for the state’s food insecurity issue.
“Nearly 86,000 Wyoming residents struggle with food insecurity,” the First Lady stated. “We believe hunger in Wyoming is a problem that can be solved.”
WHI works to prevent food insecurity by increasing awareness and support for the work of local anti-hunger organizations statewide through innovative programs connecting like-minded organizations as well as funding support for local solutions.
The First Lady added, “Through collaborative efforts and several donations, the organization provided more than 250,000 beef snack sticks to Wyoming students in the 2023-24 school year, thanks to our Beef for Backpacks program.”
Beef for Backpacks provides snack sticks from local beef donors for weekend food bag programs across the state.
According to the First Lady, “The 307 Meat Company in Laramie processes the donated beef, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association seeks out beef donations through their network, labels are provided by the Wyoming Beef Council and Multivac and several donors, ranging from large corporations to individual contributors, provide funding.”
Award presentation
Prior to addressing Wyoming’s business leaders, Gordon presented the Bill Daniels Ethical Leadership Award to former Wyoming Supreme Court Chief Justice Marilyn Kite.
The Bill Daniels Ethical Leadership Award is a joint venture between the WBA, the UW College of Business and the Daniels Fund.
Recipients are selected for this prestigious award based on the Daniels Fund ethics initiative principles which include integrity, trust, accountability, transparency, fairness, respect, rule of law and viability.
Kite, who grew up in Laramie, was selected for this award due to her commitment to public service and continued display of integrity.
Her distinguished career included working for the Wyoming Attorney General, Holland and Hart law firm and holding a long tenure on the Wyoming Supreme Court from 2000-15. She was also the first woman in Wyoming to serve as a Supreme Court justice and was elected chief justice by her fellow justices, serving from 2010-14.
“This is so humbling, I am having a hard time finding the right words,” Kite said. “I know this – I have had so many opportunities in my life made possible by many of you in this room today, and I am filled with gratitude.”
Kite went on to describe how her father, who grew up in poverty, became her role model as he gave back to his community by finding projects where he could make a difference.
“Whether it was a bond issue for a local swimming pool for the kids or beginning the United Way in Laramie, he created ways to help the community,” she added.
Governorʼs keynote
The 41st Governor’s Business Forum concluded with a presentation from the governor on Wyoming’s future.
“In the 1980s, it was really dark in Wyoming. People could barely make a go at it,” Gordon stated. “I remember when the interest rates were at 18 percent. But then in the 1990s, we saw some growth until 2008 when things collapsed again. We have seen it all.”
Gordon continued, “I worked with the Trump administration, the Biden administration and now back to a Trump administration, which means Wyoming has an incredibly bright future and opportunity to utilize innovation over regulation.”
“We have been very good at buffering the outrageous arrows, as I say, which have come from the federal government in the form of regulations and challenges, but now Wyoming is in the position to become an incredible leader,” he added.
Gordon recapped areas Wyoming is excelling in and discussed how the state can continue to make things better.
He mentioned, “It’s all connected, from education to our workforces to building communities, it all makes Wyoming a better place to live for us and for the next generation.”
Updates
After the presentation, Gordon sat down with WBA President Renny MacKay and discussed the supplemental budget proposal, which he released after the forum to limit ongoing spending, including only $6.5 million in ongoing expenditures, much of it as the result of inflation.
In the wake of an historically devastating wildfire season, the governor has prioritized replenishing the state’s depleted firefighting accounts, as well as ensuring funds are available to help restore watersheds and habitat and replace lost agricultural infrastructure.
Gordon stated, “Out of $220 million in one-time spending in the supplemental budget, a large portion is specifically dedicated to address the 2024 wildfire season.”
According to the governor’s website, $140 million is specifically dedicated to firefighting and restoration efforts.
“We have some big challenges in front of us with what we are doing in the next couple of days with Wyoming’s stable token,” he added.
The Wyoming stable token will be backed by cash, U.S. Treasury securities and repurchase agreements held in reserve.
In the Wyoming Stable Tokens Act, interest income generated on the underlying securities, will be used to diversify state revenue streams, with capital distributed to Wyoming’s school foundation program.
“What is really interesting to me is we can utilize stable tokens within the framework of Wyoming, which means we are protected from the overreach of the federal government, allowing Wyoming’s banks to lead in what is coming next in terms of new technology in the financial sector,” he added.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
