Bill Sniffin touts diversification during tour of Gillette area

GILLETTE -- Wyoming governor hopeful Bill Sniffin learned that people here want diversification of industry and worry about their coal mines closing.

The state's fastest growing city also bustles with an energy and confidence that reflects the youth of the place.

During a town meeting Jan. 10, Sniffin found himself continually asked by Gillette community leaders about his experience in his hometown of Lander, which had suffered the worst bust experience in the state in the 1980s.

Sniffin was one of a group of spirited community leaders who transformed his hometown into the vibrant, dynamic city it is today. Just 15 years ago, Sniffin's Fremont County lost 2,500 mining jobs permanently, and saw the economy plunge through the floor.

Gillette and Campbell County, meanwhile, now have the third largest workforce in Wyoming. It is also the youngest county in the state with an average population age of 34, according to local officials.

Susan Bigelow is CEO of the local economic development group and took Sniffin on a tour of her booming city. They toured a new 45,000 square foot All Wire plant, where pipe is being constructed for the coalbed methane industry. The plant manager, projected that more than half of their workforce of 55 people will be women.

A combination of incentives from the city, county and state helped bring the company to Gillette from California. Bigelow said she was proud of how everybody had worked together to make the new industry a reality.

Later that night at the town meeting, Sniffin shared that story and told of his own business experiences of bringing all the parties to the table and establishing common goals. "I like the way they did that in Gillette. It's a model for all of Wyoming to use," he said.

During the Gillette tour, Sniffin saw the large new Business Park on the south edge of town. It will include a new college campus and is located across from the high school. Donkey Creek running through it enhances the area for future office development.

Instead of tearing down an old highway building, art patrons in Gillette raised money and earned some grants and are creating a new facility. They hope it will provide all residents of the area exposure to art. The city built a new street throug

h the area and Bigelow sees that whole area as haven for sophisticated ventures.

The present college campus in Gillette is jammed in amidst the Senior Citizen Center and other facilities. It is planned to convert that whole area as a place for seniors from the area. "Some have already come by looking the place over," Bigelow says.

The success stories listed above reflect smaller efforts by Gillette's leaders as they find themselves nestled among the energy giants.

Some of the largest coal mines in the world are located in the Southern Powder River Basin, which is where Gillette in located. What is expected to be the world's largest play of coalbed methane gas development is also occurring right there.

Five multi-million dollar power plants are on the drawing boards for the area.Plus there are many oil and natural gas fields in the area. Indeed, Gillette is the energy capital of the United States.

"I was struck by a seemingly contradiction in attitude by Gillette people when I visited there," Sniffin said. "On the one hand, I saw more confidence and optimism than anywhere else that I have been in the state. These folks are getting things done. Gillette is the heartbeat of Wyoming right now.

"And yet, because most of their economic well-being comes from these huge coal mines and other energy developments, there is a feeling of a loss of control. Most people don't like to lose control of their personal destiny. When the biggest part of your economic future is dependent of the dynamic world-wide swings in the price of power - well, that can make you nervous."

Sniffin feels that his "business-like approach" to things would help Gillette at lot in the future if he were elected governor.

"First of all, when you have an economy with the potential that Gillette does, well, I would try to help those folks in every way possible in growing their infrastructure and diversifying their economy.

"Truly, what would you do if the mines shut down? We need to make sure that if that did happen, we could still have a dynamic city there.

"And second, if the mines stay open and the economy stays healthy, there is probably more potential for state growth in the Gillette area than anywhere else in Wyoming. We need to provide their local leaders with all the tools they need to achieve their maximum potential," he concluded.

While in Gillette, Sniffin also visited with Ruth Benson of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cathy Homar of the Chamber of Commerce, City Councilperson Donna Birgen, News-Record Publisher Ann Franscell plus several local business leaders including Wayne Worthen, Dave Spencer and Jim Engel.

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