UW’s WORTH Institute Wins $2.5M Federal Grant to Build Rural Career Pathways in Outdoor Recreation, Tourism, Hospitality

The University of Wyoming’s Jay Kemmerer Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Institute has received a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education to launch the Wyoming Rural Pathways Initiative (WRPI). The four-year project runs through September 2030.

WRPI will build a statewide system that moves rural Wyoming students and workers into careers in outdoor recreation, tourism and hospitality -- the state’s largest private-sector employer. The sector generates $5 billion in annual visitor spending and supports more than 33,000 jobs, yet rural residents often lack local, affordable routes into its skilled and management positions.

“It is critical that we provide meaningful career pathways for industries in Wyoming,” UW President Shane Reeves says. “This grant will help advance those pathways through statewide collaboration with multiple institutions and organizations. We are excited to have the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute lead this important work for our state.”

Over four years, the initiative aims to serve 2,000 participants, enroll students in postsecondary credentials and help them complete credentials or transfer to four-year institutions. Learners will be placed in new employer-paid internships and apprenticeships.

Additionally, the initiative will:

-- Co-develop workforce Pell-aligned credential pathways with community college partners.

-- Build a statewide internship network and register new apprenticeships.

-- Replicate proven career and technical education (CTE) models from Jackson and Cody in four rural schools, with dual-enrollment credit.

-- Work with the Wyoming Department of Education to identify and evaluate industry-recognized credentials that serve outdoor recreation industries.

-- Launch a career-navigation platform and AI-literacy micro-credentials, led by UW School of Computing faculty members.

“Outdoor recreation, tourism and hospitality are how visitors experience Wyoming, and the sector employs thousands of our neighbors. This grant lets us build pathways so rural students can grow into the managers and leaders of these industries and retain them in Wyoming,” says Dan McCoy, director of the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute and WRPI project director.

Statewide Partnerships

The WORTH Institute leads WRPI in partnership with collaborators across Wyoming. Northwest College in Powell will offer outdoor education and aerial adventure operations credentials.

“Our students come to Northwest College for outdoor education and adventure operations. WRPI will connect that training to paid work and a clear route to higher paying credentials,” says Lisa Watson, president of Northwest College.

Sheridan College will offer culinary, hospitality and event planning credentials.

“We are thrilled that our collaborative, joint grant proposal will help us build rural pathways in our region of Wyoming to support recreation, tourism and hospitality industries,” says Sheridan College President Walter Tribley.

Jackson Hole High School in Teton County School District 1 instructs a three-course outdoor leadership CTE sequence, while Cody High School in Park County School District 6 provides an integrated learning pod model.

“Cody High School is thrilled to partner with the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute. Our integrated learning pods are authentic ways for students to learn and provide experiences in outdoor recreation,” says Mitchell Espeland, principal of Cody High School. “We look forward to spreading our integrated, outdoor recreation pod model to other interested districts and schools in the state.”

Additionally, the Wyoming Department of Education will work with WRPI to handle credential approval and CTE articulation. The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services will work with WRPI on apprenticeship development. The Wyoming Office of Tourism will coordinate with the tourism industry. Xanterra Travel Collection (Yellowstone National Park) and Grand Teton Lodge Co. (Grand Teton National Park) will anchor employers for paid work-based learning and apprenticeships.

“Every year, we need to recruit skilled and committed people who understand our region. I’m excited this program will allow us to grow and develop talent from inside Wyoming that will benefit our guests, our employees and our parks,” says Mike Keller, general manager of Xanterra Travel Collection in Yellowstone National Park.

The project also will involve other lodging, guiding and dude-ranch operators statewide.          

The project is endorsed by Gov. Mark Gordon and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder. It also builds on Gordon’s Wyoming Innovation Partnership tourism and hospitality pillar.

Work begins this month. The WORTH Institute will hire a full-time project coordinator and convene a statewide WRPI Advisory Council that meets quarterly. Students, schools and employers interested in participating can contact the WORTH Institute at worth@uwyo.edu.

About the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute

The Jay Kemmerer Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality Institute at the University of Wyoming advances Wyoming’s outdoor recreation, tourism and hospitality industry through research, statewide engagement and workforce development.

This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Fund of the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, award No. 26D60FD000018. The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education.