JAC Agency Hearings JAC Index 01-10-18 am1 Wednesday, January 10, 2018 Agenda: AM 085 – Business Council 066 – Board of Tourism 1/10/2018 8:04:19 AM Chairman of the Day – Chairman Nicholas Roll Call – Don Richards: quorum established; Larsen and Dockstader excused 085 – Business Council, Shawn Reese, CEO, Pete Illoway, Chairman of the Board, Janet Marschner, CFO, introduced other staff, overview of standard budget, pg. 3, pg. 7 and 8, performance measures, efficiencies realized internally, investment in the 3 year period, was standard budget and ‘15 budget numbers, looking at return on public dollars, includes staff time, comparing other states agencies to WY, gave history of business council and working policy, 1999 budget was $11M, 38 staff, 2005 was first year it looked like it looks today, pg. 9/10, department priorities, pg. 11, recommended 320 cuts Sommers: vacancy questions, requested history Reese: November report status of positions used, holding off for ENDOW info, broadband coordinator, communications manager, pg. 15, overview of revenue, grown in Wyoming program, match ag producers with restaurants and schools, etc. Sommers: WY grown website very involved and rather complicated, reexamine application form Reese: need follow up on producer applicants, pg. 17, special revenue fund, loan participation program, Wilson: loan questions Reese: explained large loan program/challenge loan program Walters: interest not coming back to challenge loan accounts Reese: direction from government, stretch large loan and challenge loan accounts, don’t believe there will be a limiting factor for new projects, cost of bringing in a private bank not sure what cost is, loan origination fee, state treasurer’s office tie in, pg. 18, unit 0101, pg. 19, rural rehabilitation fund, value added loans, pg. 20, 320 cuts, gov’s rec approve, pg. 23, 24, detailed budget, no exception requests, pg. 26, investment ready communities, pg. 28, business ready communities, recruitment projects, ENDOW tie in, impact on state and region attracting new businesses, railcar repair facilities, project a 4% return on this endeavor, report on wage scales of new businesses for Rep Wilson, turn down rate, past 24 months ,55 applications totaling $92.4M, 31 projects approved, 17 not awarded, 7 under review, quarterly acceptance of applications, pg. 30, grant reduction, gov’s rec –deny, data centers –tax exemptions, wind energy projects, ENDOW recommendations discussion, broadband, continue carrying out the vision through the various administrations, Business Council vs ENDOW visions, Shot Show/trade show coming up 1/10/2018 9:35:56 AM Business Council Concluded/Break 1/10/2018 9:56:47 AM 066 – Wyoming Tourism Board, Diane Shober, Director, introduced board, Anita Benton, Director of Business Operations, highlights of 2017, 50% of revenue comes from Park and Teton county, eclipse, paid media spent $4.4M, summer campaign a success, feedback given on website presence for WY tourism, ease of navigability, have done a review/audit and will change somethings as per recommendations, search engine marketing being considered Dockstader: regional approach in efforts in advertising vs statewide and dollars going out of state Shober: some parts of the state are already doing those type of things by sharing advertising dollars within the region, unity of brand, Brand USA, concentrated efforts talking about the US, put out of state advertising dollars back into the state and local efforts to attract visitors, understand initiative, room in future budgets for geo-target certain areas, destination vs activity for the state, magazine, more feedback on website Driskill: bring big bulk numbers of tourists to regions in state, supports efforts, website, print media Shober: outdoor recreation taskforce and office of tourism synergy, consolidated efforts, interactive apps Schwartz: food and beverage travel attraction in Wyoming not noted on website, tie into business council initiative with producers and vendors Shober: work with Distillers’ Guild, etc. to provide content for tourism attractions, “Hike like a Women”, pg. 5, priorities, 75% of budget in 900 series, pg. 8, FIFI, $16K left in fund, asking for a footnote to continue to use money for potential upcoming projects, pg. 11, exception request, $20K , pg. 12/13, 320 reduction, gov’s rec –deny Wilson: FIFI question Shober: Wind River film about Wyoming but not filmed here Sommers: vacancy list inquiry, how positions cut? Shober: funds used to cover other things, 14 months or greater position open, funds back in a reversion 1/10/2018 11:27:45 AM WTB concluded/break 1/10/2018 11:34:31 AM Draft bill 18LSO – 0354 and 18LSO-0401, draft 4, Rep Larsen gave background/history leading to determination of re-combining these agencies, consider election year changes coming up Forslund: WDH, Director, when appointed to both agencies in June requested a review to re-combining the agencies, efficiencies to be gained in support functions, potential in improvement in client services, field services remain about the same, oversight issues, corporate model, drawbacks too large to manage effectively, will DFS get lost w/I agency, welfare benefit side and enforcement side, roughly 80% of all clients are probably served by both agencies, fiscal comparisons/tracking Barlow: Chairman of Labor, Health and Social Services Committee – House, not an interim topic, may want to include judiciary in discussion for enforcement as well as health committee, Sen Scott’s has reservations, enforcement challenges with in the combined agency, cautious about section 300 latitude to WDH 1/10/2018 12:12:49 PM Lunch break