November 2022 Newsletter

NEWSLETTER

Photo by Kate Foster

POINTS TO PONDER

From the Executive Director

Fremont

County voters will be asked on their November 8 general election ballot whether they wish to renew the 2% county lodging tax for another two years. Here are a few reasons why I’ll be voting “yes.”

Tourism Contributes Significantly to Fremont County’s Economy

Tourism is the second largest economic generator in the Cowboy State, generating jobs and living wages for year-round residents. Last year here in Fremont County -- marketed as Wyoming’s Wind River Country -- tourism directly supported 1,460 jobs and generated approximately $54.2 million in wages.

Visitors to Fremont County spent just shy of $158 million dollars in 2021, accounting for spending in the following areas:

• $30.7 million in restaurants (up 16.9% from 2020)

• $27.8 million in lodging (up 56.4%)

• $21.6 million in arts, entertainment, and recreation (up 16%)

• $19.9 million in gas and local transportation (up 54.7%)

• $17.4 million in shopping (up 17.6%)

• $9.8 million in food stores (up 18.8%)

• $1 million in visitor air travel (up 20.7%)

The Lodging Tax - The Tax We Don’t Pay

Originally adopted in 1989, the renewed county lodging tax would impose a 2% sales tax on “sleeping accommodations for guests in hotels, motels, tourist courts, trailer parks, campgrounds, dude ranches, short-term condominiums, and similar establishments” (e.g., Airbnb’s and VRBO’s). Revenue would continue to be directly invested in attracting more visitors -- and more dollars -- to Fremont County.

Investing in Lander’s Tourism Assets

On behalf of the City of Lander, the Lander Chamber allocates tens of thousands of dollars annually in Tourism Asset Development (TAD) Grants to tourism-related non-profit and civic organizations. So far in 2021, we’ve supported numerous events and programs, including the Pioneer Days Rodeo and Parade, Native American dances, Lander Presents, Jurassic Classic mountain bike festival, RiverFest, Lander Valley Farmers’ Market, Challenge for Charities, Lander Girls Softball League, International Climbers’ Festival, Wyoming Outdoor Weekend & Expo, Sinks Canyon Rough & Tumble Trail Races, Garden Expo, and many more!

Vote “yes” to renew the lodging tax!

Owen Sweeney Executive Director

Lander Chamber of Commerce

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Eric Andrews President

Summit West CPA Group

Ann Espinosa Vice President

Home Source Realty, Inter Mountain Builders

Chris VonHoltum Treasurer Central Bank & Trust

Jon Tonkowich, Past President

Summit West CPA Group

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dave Fehringer Fremont Engineering James Whiting Whiting Law

Alyssa Lozier

Edward Jones

Tom Davis Fremont Therapy Group

Jennifer Hamilton SageWest Healthcare

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

Owen Sweeney Executive Director

Carol King Associate Director Dayna LaTorre Event Coordinator

Business After Hours 2022-2023

November 17: Lander Children’s Museum

December 15: White Heart Foundation

January 19: Central Bank and Trust

February 16: Messenger Girls

March 16: Mountain Vista Retirement Center

April 20: Stanley Steemer

May 18: Benessere Clinic

October Business After Hours hosted by Scott Robeson Custom Woodworking

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

NEW MEMBERS

The Steamboat Orthopaedic & Spine Institute of Lander is an orthopedic clinic comprised of local, dedicated, and highly trained staff, including 10 physicians and dozens of medical care and support staff, bringing world-class care to Lander and the surrounding area.

SOSI brings an unparalleled level of specialized-trained orthopaedic surgeons to the region, with the mission to provide our patients with exceptional service and expe rienced orthopaedic and spine care in surgical manage ment, non-surgical treatments, recovery and rehabilita tion from head to toe.

The combined expertise of our staff provides state-ofthe-art care in a personal and professional manner. We are deeply embedded in the community and great enthu siasts of the outdoors, local education and area charities.

Steamboat Orthopaedic & Spine Institute of Lander is proud to have Hollie Johnson on our team locally in Land er.Hollie is now taking appointments. Please call to make an appointment, (307) 206-9300. We are located at 8185 WY-789.

Central Wyoming Regional Airport makes sense. With daily jet service to the west’s largest hub, United Express is the easiest and surest way to connect your business and family to the national transportation network.

Fremont County’s only commercial airport is the practical way to travel in and out of this beautiful place we call home. Enjoy free parking, short lines, and fast check-in. Plus, when you fly local, you don’t have to travel before you travel.

Central Wyoming Regional supports local business and is hon ored to join the Lander Chamber of Commerce.

EVERY TUESDAY

Carnegie Book Nook at the Lander Library 1-5 pm

EVERY WEDNESDAY

--Rotary Club noon, Oxbow Restaurant --Sip ‘n Shop 10-5, Red White Buffalo

EVERY THURSDAY

--Parkinson’s Support Group, Lander Senior Center 2-3 pm --Kiwanis Club, noon, Mamaw’s Kitchen @ Inn at Lander (formerly Summit)

EVERY FRIDAY

--Carnegie Book Nook at the Lander Library noon-4 pm

EVERY SATURDAY

--Improv Acoustic Music Jams Lander Art Center 10 am-noon

1 Wildlife On Tap Coalter Loft, 7-8:30 pm

1-14 GROUNDED art exhibit Pioneer Museum, M-Sa 9-5

2 Bootstrap Collaborative Lunch & learn, 12-1, Brunton Court, Riverton

4-30 The Art of Home art show Lander Art Center, TuTh 10-6, Fi-Sa 10-4

3 Braiding Sweetgrass book discussion Lander Library

4 First Friday Fremont County Museums, 9-5

5 Met Opera LA TRAVIATA Lander Library, 10:55 am

5 Fremont Symphony Orchestra performance, LVHS auditorium, 7 pm

5-6 NOLS Holiday Yard Sale NOLS Rocky Mountain, 10-3

10 Bootstrap Collaborative Business Networking, 5-7 pm, Brunton Court, Riverton

17 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT LANDER CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 5:30-7 pm

November Events CALENDAR

17 Bootstrap Collaborative Marketing 101, 5:30-7 pm, Brunton Court, Riverton

19 Kid’s Gingerbread House Dubois Museum, 10 am

19 LVHS Nordic Ski Team annual ski & gear swap LVHS commons, 9-11 am

Meet the Candidates held Oct. 14

RECENT EVENTS

Thank You, Renewing Members!

Atlantic City Federal Credit Union 1005 11th St., Lander

Awaken Fitness & Wellness LLC 1255 Main St., Lander

Boyle Electric David Hess 707 Garfield St., Lander

Cell Only Verizon 378 Main St., Lander

Central Wyoming College Lander 120 Enterprise Blvd., Lander

Comtronix 800 W. Collins Dr., Casper

Cornerstone Christian School 351 Sweetwater, Lander

Cowfish 148 Main St., Lander

DAPCPA Riverton LLC 320 S. Federal Blvd., Riverton

Fender Mender Body Shop 262 Washakie St., Lander

Fremont Engineering & Surveying 64 Coal Main Road, Lander

Fremont Toyota 103 Fremont Way, Lander

HUB International Mountain States 503 W. Main St., Riverton

Labyrinth Productions 514 Northridge Dr., Riverton

Lander Bar & Grill 126 Main St., Lander

Lander Dental Group, PC 799 So. 2nd St., Lander

Lander Journal PO Box 993, Riverton Lander Workforce Services 1295 12th St., Lander

Lander Valley Animal Hospital 1185 Hwy 287 N, Lander

Lincoln Street Bakery 223 Lincoln St., Lander

Mountain Vista Retirement Residence 180 Chase Dr., Lander

Rodney’s Collision & Custom Center 330 Mortimore Lane, Lander

Sagewest Health Care 1320 Bishop Randall Dr., Lander

Western Printing 546 Main St., Lander

Whiting Law PC 277 Main St., Suite 3, Lander

Wyoming Community Gas 315 W. 27th St., Cheyenne

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Chase Real Estate Management Paul Guschewsky 535 E. Main St., Lander

Book Your Next Meeting at the Chamber!

Looking for a brighter, roomier, more profes sional and technologically advanced place to host a meeting? The Chamber’s got you covered!

Full Zoom Room Functionality

Our two DTEN video conferencing boards provide our members with a simplified pro fessional meeting experience. The dual setup provides a multi-touch video display along side a digital whiteboard that allows live onscreen annotation of documents and content sharing.

Contact Us to Reserve Your Meeting Today!

You don’t need a Zoom account to take advantage of this benefit. Chamber members without their own Zoom license can use ours to host meetings with unlimited minutes for up to 100 participants. Member-only rental pricing makes this an affordable benefit for your business, and conference room is included in some memberships. Contact us today to schedule your meeting!

RENEWING MEMBERS