wyomingbusinessreport.com/article.asp?id=89037 -
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Published on: 10/1/2007
Last Visited: 11/10/2007
,,"We'll be focusing on recruiting businesses that relate or complement our energy industry such as clean-coal technology or data storage centers," said Ruth Benson, CCEDC executive director.
,,CCEDC's initiative - with the tagline "POWER.
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,,The event also marked the launching of a $2 million fundraising campaign needed to put its initiatives to work, Benson said.The CCEDC has already raised $1.5 million, which she said shows the overwhelming support of area businesses and government.The Gillette City Council also recently pledged $600,000 to CCEDC for its POWER campaign.
,,"We have the support of some of the large coal companies and two companies signed on during the kickoff, which was exciting," Benson said.
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,,"The first goal is business recruitment," Benson said, noting that there is existing shovel-ready land that some businesses may be interested in and could play an important part in recruitment.
,,During the past few years, the corporation has focused more on worker recruitment than recruiting new businesses as the area faced stunning shortages in both work force and housing.But now as the area breathes a little, Benson said, they can focus on attracting businesses that would complement the booming energy industry.
,,This is the second five-year initiative for the corporation.More than $1.7 million was raised during the first one, which helped Campbell County recruit much-needed employees by getting the word out to the nation about Gillette's need for qualified workers in various fields ranging from oil fields to coal mines to the hospitality industry.
,,"We know that there are at least 300 that came from Michigan," Benson said.
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,,Since the CCEDC has already overcome some of the work-force shortage issues, Benson is excited about the new challenges spelled out in the POWER initiative and happy with the backing the CCEDC is receiving.
,,"Our kickoff was very well attended," she said.