Lander Chamber of Commerce November 2024 Newsletter by Lander Chamber of Commerce

POINTS to PONDER

An Attempt to Alleviate Lander’s Housing Shortage

The Lander Planning Commission has submitted to the City Council its proposals to increase the availability of housing within city limits. In general, these proposals seek to allow for the construction of slightly larger dwellings on slightly large footprints. With no current plans to annex land, the City is hoping that some modest infill development will provide at least some additional housing.

Proposals Not a Silver Bullet; Hope is to Increase Available Housing

By and large, the Lander Chamber of Commerce agrees with the Commission’s intent. We have many members, large employers and small, who are struggling to fill open positions, many of them well-paying, professional ones. We understand that these proposals won’t solve all of our housing problems, least of all with respect to affordability (too many market variables are out of local control), but if at least some housing can be built that some people can afford, then we applaud efforts to do so.

A Way to Help #1: Reduce the Number of Short-Term Vacation Rentals

If the intention of these proposals is to increase the availability of long-term dwellings on the local market (and it is), then we suggest that the City consider limiting the number of Airbnbs, VRBOs, etc. within city limits. This is not to say that short-term vacation rentals (STVRs) should have no place in our local economy; they should Nevertheless, many towns and cities with housing shortages have come to realize that increasing the number of STVRs works at cross purposes with their efforts to foster functional local economies.

A Way to Help #2: Reduce Regulatory Burden

Efforts to improve safe construction are laudable, but a point can be reached at which the discretionary adoption of policies above and beyond what makes a building safe often imposes significant costs on businesses that are passed onto consumers in higher prices. If

Lander wants to lower the cost of residential (and commercial) construction, let’s find ways to reduce unnecessary red tape

Owen Sweeney CEO

Lander Chamber of Commerce

EXECUTIVE

President

VonHoltum Central Bank & Trust

Past President

Summit West CPA Group DIRECTORS

Jenna Ackerman

Associate Real Estate Broker

Brian Rohrbacher

Atlantic City Federal Credit Union

Joseph Susanka

Program

Graphic

Caeli Sweeney

The Wyoming Legislature is scheduled to convene in Cheyenne on January 14 for its General Session. Prepare your business by hearing what Fremont County's state senators and representatives have been addressing during the interim and what issues they expect to consider in 2025. $30 chamber of commerce members / $40 guests; $1,000 table sponsorship for 8 (chamber members) / $1,250 table sponsorship for 8 (guests); Pre-register at landerchamber.org or call 307-332-3892. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

FEDERAL POLICY UPDATE

Despite Increasing Pressure, Beneficial Ownership Reporting Still Required, Heavy Penalties Looming

Despite ongoing efforts to have them repealed, new federal rules that went into effect in early 2024 remain so to date. By January 1, 2025, businesses formed before January 1, 2024 must report personal “beneficial owner” information to a new federal database This rule requires an estimated 32 million corporations, LLCs, or similar entities with 20 or fewer employees and $5 million or less in gross receipts or sales to report this information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). A “beneficial owner” is any individual who directly, or indirectly, exercises “substantial control” over a reporting company, or owns at least 25 percent of the “ownership interests” of a reporting company. Businesses have until until January 1, 2025 to file if the business was formed before January 1, 2024 Any business created during 2024 has 90 days to report. Businesses formed after January 1, 2025, will have 30 days to report. Additional rules apply. Failure to report could result in criminal penalties of up to 2 years in prison and civil penalties of $500 per day, up to $10,000. We strongly encourage you to contact your accountant and/or attorney.

Keeping local money in local businesses since 1995!

Support local businesses when you shop with Lander Bucks! Issued by the Lander Chamber of Commerce for the exclusive benefit of our local economy, Lander Bucks are available in increments of $5, $10, $15, and $20 and can be spent just like cash at any Chamber member business. You can purchase Lander Bucks on the Chamber website, and have them shipped to a recipient’s home or

pick them up at the Chamber Visitor Center & Business Complex. Lander Bucks make a great Christmas gift!

Looking for a brighter, roomier, more professional, and technologically advanced place to host a meeting?

The Chamber's got you covered! Contact us today!

Host Your Next Meeting

FULL ZOOM ROOM FUNCTIONALITY

Our two DTEN video conferencing boards offer a simplified, professional meeting experience. The dual setup provides a multi-touch video display alongside a digital whiteboard that allows live on-screen annotation and content sharing.

ZOOM LICENSE NOT REQUIRED -- USE OURS!

Use our Zoom license to host meetings with unlimited minutes for up to 100 participants. Member-only pricing makes this an affordable benefit for your business, and conference room use is included in some memberships.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

October’s Business After Hours was hosted by CMBC Building & Restoration. Join us November 21 for the next BAH, hosted by the City of Lander!

Upcoming Business After Hours Hosts

of Lander Wind River Outpost

Hampton Inn & Suites - Riverton

Central Wyoming College - Lander

Open - contact to host The Lander Motel

Wyoming Outdoor Council

BUSINESS EDUCATION

Here is a summary from one of our recent blogposts. Be sure to visit landerchamber.org/blog for this and other topics touching on public policy, economic development, networking and business education opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our community.

Why Self-Awareness is a Critical Trait in Today’s Workplace

Self-awareness is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of professional success. In the context of leadership, it is often considered a key differentiator between high-performing teams and those that struggle with internal friction and inefficiency. Self-awareness is essential for both personal and professional growth, enabling individuals to accept feedback constructively and improve communication skills. A lack of self-awareness can lead to several issues, from poor communication and collaboration to a toxic work environment Strategies to combat a lack of self-awareness include promoting regular feedback loops, incorporating selfassessment tools, and encouraging a growth mindset culture. With minor to substantial issues, teams benefit from self-awareness; it enhances team dynamics by fostering trust and collaboration. Self-aware employees tend to be more engaged, more likely to take initiative, and better equipped to handle the complexities of modern work environments. Investing in self-awareness development can lead to significant long-term benefits for any organization. By making self-awareness a core competency in hiring, development, and performance evaluations, organizations can build stronger, more cohesive teams capable of navigating the challenges of today’s dynamic business landscape.