UW’s CNP Receives Wyoming Economic Development Innovation Award

The Wyoming Community Navigator Program (CNP) has received the Wyoming Economic Development Innovation Award from the Wyoming Economic Development Association (WEDA).

The award, presented during WEDA’s annual Wyoming Working Together Conference in Lander Sept. 22, recognizes an innovative project significantly impacting Wyoming and its citizens. The purpose of the award is to celebrate partnerships, innovative programmatic aspects and economic development impact.

The Wyoming CNP received this award for its use of creative funding mechanisms; efforts to create efficiencies and reduce costs; unique partnership models; and techniques to enhance the economy across the state.

The Wyoming CNP, through the Wyoming Small Business Development Center Network at the University of Wyoming, provides small-business resources and assistance for traditionally underserved entrepreneurs throughout Wyoming.

“I’m proud of the work the hub and spokes have done over the last two years,” says Nicholas Giraldo, Wyoming CNP program manager. “It shows that when a small group of Wyoming entrepreneurial support partners come together, pool resources, share knowledge and collaborate, big things can be accomplished.”

Through its first two years, the Wyoming CNP helped Wyoming entrepreneurs launch 55 new businesses and create over 200 jobs. Additionally, funding partners within the program helped entrepreneurs access over $14.5 million in loans, with half of the money going to women- and minority-owned businesses.

The Wyoming CNP has served nearly 400 clients, providing them with over 2,000 hours of assistance and training. The program has a direct focus on reaching traditionally underserved entrepreneurs, including women, veterans, rural residents, and cultural and ethnic minorities. The Wyoming CNP’s client base is considerably more diverse by percentage than the overall Wyoming population.

The Wyoming CNP includes partnerships with The Local Crowd, Wyoming Women’s Business Center, UW Extension, Laramie County Library System’s Library to Business Program, Wind River Development Fund and Wyoming Smart Capital Network.

To learn more about the Wyoming CNP, visit www.wyomingcommunitynavigator.org/.

For more information on the Wyoming Economic Development Innovation Award, visit www.wyomingeda.org.