FY 2026 Requests

FY 2026 Community Project Funding Requests:

NOTE: Projects are organized in alphabetical order by name of proposed recipient and then alphabetically by title of project name.

Project Name: Police Pursuit Vehicle Acquisition

Requested Amount: $600,000

Intended Recipient: Carbon County, WY

Explanation of the Request:  The requested amount of $600,000 would be used by the Carbon County Sheriff's Office to purchase and modernize the equipment of 8 patrol vehicles. These vehicles would replace much of the existing fleet, which, in some cases, dates back nearly 25 years, surpassing their optimal mileage threshold and posing a critical risk to the Sheriff's Department's efficiency and safety in a county roughly the size of New Jersey. Failure to promptly address the aging fleet may result in delayed emergency response times. This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because replacement equipment would properly equip the Sheriff's office to administer effective and timely public safety services and conduct search and rescue missions throughout the county.

Member Certification Form: 

Project Name: Air Traffic Control Tower Construction Project

Requested Amount: $3,000,000

Intended Recipient: Casper/Natrona County International Airport

Explanation of the Request:  The air traffic control tower at the Casper/Natrona County International Airport was commissioned in 1954 and has significant line-of-sight issues in addition to infrastructure and systems that are well beyond their useful life. Without a new facility that addresses these complications, the Casper/Natrona County International Airport, the state's only international airport, faces the potential loss of both air traffic control and terminal radar approach control services, which would severely jeopardize both safety and rural air service in Central Wyoming. This request is even more critical as the Casper/Natrona County International Airport's unique existing control tower status as a sponsor-owned, FAA-staffed facility renders it ineligible for other traditional forms of financial assistance that are commonly available to airports. This request is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as it will allow the Casper/Natrona County International Airport to maintain efficient rural air service in the region, ensure the safety of all incoming and outgoing aircraft, and support the stability and economic growth of countless surrounding businesses and communities in Central Wyoming.

Member Certification Form: 

Project Name: North Platte Sanitary Sewer Project

Requested Amount: $4,000,000

Intended Recipient: City of Casper

Explanation of the Request:  The regional North Platte Sanitary Sewer Interceptor, installed in 1984, carries all the wastewater from Mills and Bar Nunn, and 70% of the wastewater from Casper, to the regional wastewater treatment plant. Because of its oversized design and underutilization stemming from anticipated population growth that never came to fruition at the time of its construction, excess capacity has resulted in low flow conditions leading to the release of hydrogen sulfide gas and the formation of sulfuric acid, which has caused extensive corrosion and deterioration. As a result, the interceptor is in dire need of rehabilitation to maintain its integrity and prevent further catastrophic failures, such as the sinkhole that previously occurred on January 29, 2025. This request is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as it will extend the life and reliability of the system assets, encourage economic development, promote regionalization of sewer services, and, most importantly, stave off potential catastrophic failures while maintaining affordable sewer rates for several communities across the region.

Member Certification Form: 

Project Name: Police Fleet Vehicle Replacement

Requested Amount: $1,656,000

Intended Recipient: City of Casper

Explanation of the Request:  The requested amount of $1,656,000 would be used by the City of Casper to purchase 18 new police vehicles and associated equipment, and continue the Casper Police Department's longstanding one-to-one car program, which permanently assigns a vehicle to each sworn officer. Since its inception, the one-to-one car program has effectively deterred criminal activity, encouraged compliance with traffic laws, and improved emergency response times. Despite the program's success, the City of Casper is facing challenges in maintaining the program due to increased costs associated with aging vehicle replacement, equipment upgrades, and supply chain disruptions. Aging vehicles and equipment, including body-worn cameras, in-car cameras, and GPS technology, pose increased maintenance costs and decreased operational efficiency, negatively impacting public safety operations. This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as it will ensure the continuation of the one-to-one car program, reduce long-term maintenance costs, and directly support law enforcement in promoting public safety.

Member Certification Form: 

Project Name: 19th Street and Missile Drive Intersection Realignment

Requested Amount: $6,000,000

Intended Recipient: City of Cheyenne

Explanation of the Request:  Cheyenne was built along Crow Creek, which has a drainage area of 336 square miles. The 19th Street intersection bridge crossing over Crow Creek lacks adequate flow capacity and presents life-safety hazards to surrounding neighborhoods during moderate flooding events. In addition to to the drainage issues, the Missile Drive, 19th Street, and Old Happy Jack Road intersection presents multiple road safety hazards including its awkward and unsafe configuration, traffic congestion and delays, inadequate turning lanes, visibility difficulties, access concerns, and lack of non-vehicular mobility, all of which significantly increases the risk of accidents. This request is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as the intersection realignment will increase the safety of the crossing by providing improved visibility for motorists turning onto Missile Drive from 19th Street and enhance clearance for the turning movements of larger vehicles, while bridge improvements will increase the capacity of the channel, eliminate floodwater overtopping in the area, and partially mitigate flooding from major storms on both sides of the channel downstream of the structure.

Member Certification Form: 

Project Name: Lower Mills Hydrant, Service, and Valve Replacement Project

Requested Amount: $2,291,255

Intended Recipient: City of Mills

Explanation of the Request:  Lower Mills is an area of Mills south of Pendell Blvd and Yellowstone Hwy (20/26) and east of Wyoming Blvd. Lower Mills contains approximately 30% of the City’s total residential customers as well as one of the largest commercial businesses. As one of the oldest areas in the city, most of the infrastructure in this area is approximately 50 years old. The valves, services, and hydrants have deteriorated due to the long-term exposure to the soils with no cathodic protection. As hydrants and valves age, they become more difficult to exercise. Exercising hydrants and valves is important to ensure that they work properly. Corrosion over time drastically affects both hydrants and valve’s ability to function properly. This request is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as it will ensure continued water service to the homes and businesses in the area, guarantee that Fire personnel have access to working hydrants to effectively respond to emergency events, conduct replacement of critical water infrastructure for Mills residents, and reduce long-term maintenance costs and mitigate the risk of costly waterline breaks in the future.

Member Certification Form:

Project Name: Bitter Creek Restoration - Phase 2

Requested Amount: $3,031,279.61

Intended Recipient: City of Rock Springs

Explanation of the Request:  The flooding at Bitter Creek is a well-documented issue, adversely affecting vulnerable residents and economic growth in Sweetwater County. Rock Springs is uniquely connected to Bitter Creek, as it is the primary drainage through the city and serves the community of roughly 23,000 people. Because the floods at Bitter Creek are particularly unpredictable and notably large and violent, residential neighborhoods and commercial/retail areas surrounding the creek have been designated as a FEMA floodplain. The flooding at Bitter Creek has prevented needed economic growth within Rock Springs, and the once-vibrant downtown area has suffered from underinvestment due to its compromised status. This request is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as it will eliminate barriers to economic development and downtown restoration efforts, in addition to costly flood insurance premiums for disadvantaged residents; prevent or mitigate damage in the whole region, ultimately reducing the economic impact of such disasters on the state as a whole; and spur long-term economic growth in the region by attracting new residents, tourists, and businesses.

Member Certification Form: 

Project Name: Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) Deice Pad & Collection System Improvements – Phase 2

Requested Amount: $10,257,497

Intended Recipient: Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)

Explanation of the Request:  The Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) serves as the primary air transportation facility for the community of Jackson, Wyoming, and as a gateway to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and other nearby natural areas. The existing deice pad at JAC was constructed in 2011 and is insufficient in collection capability, safety, and reliability. JAC passenger enplanements have increased 83%, and aircraft operations have increased 60% since the deice pad was constructed in 2011, leaving the key regional airport under capacity for deicing tasks. The capacity of the existing deice pad is often overwhelmed during the colder seasons due to the limited number of deice positions and queuing space, resulting in delays that can affect air traffic both regionally and nationally, and increase the likelihood of health and safety concerns for passengers. Phase 1 of the deice pad improvements, which was completed on time and under budget in 2024, included a new taxilane to access the existing deice pad. This request is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as it will enhance airport safety, capacity, and reliability by improving the aircraft deicing operations as well as the aircraft deicing collection system, while also increasing the protection of the surrounding groundwater.

Member Certification Form: 

Project Name: Arapaho Industrial Park Wastewater Improvements Project

Requested Amount: $3,845,077

Intended Recipient: Northern Arapaho Tribe

Explanation of the Request:  The Northern Arapaho Tribe, located on the Wind River Reservation in Central Wyoming, faces significant water infrastructure issues due to outdated infrastructure and patchwork repairs over the years. Geotechnical investigations at the Arapahoe Industrial Park were conducted in November 2022 to determine the suitability of the soils being re-used for wastewater lagoon liner soils. According to the geotechnical investigation at this site, the existing soils are likely seeping untreated wastewater into the groundwater below. Shallow drinking water wells exist in the area. Additionally, the existing lagoon system is located directly adjacent to the Little Wind River. Erosion of the berms, or total failure of the berms at the Industrial Park lagoon site due to river flooding, poses the risk of leakage of untreated wastewater into the Little Wind River if not addressed. This request is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as it will protect drinking water wells, prevent leakage of wastewater, and allow the Tribe to complete a much-needed update of its water system at the Arapaho Industrial Park.

Member Certification Form:

Project Name: Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport (RKS) General Aviation Apron Rehabilitation and Expansion

Requested Amount: $4,215,000

Intended Recipient: Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport (RKS)

Explanation of the Request:  Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport (SWRA) is currently facing significant infrastructure challenges and limitations regarding the current General Aviation (GA) apron. The current GA apron layout poses frequent safety concerns with numerous Taxiway Object Free Area (TOFA) intrusions, which can lead to aircraft collisions and ground service accidents. Since 2018, SWRA has seen 5x as many Airport Design Group (ADG) III aircraft, thus necessitating the move from ADG II TOFA clearances to ADG III TOFA clearances. The fleet mix of smaller aircraft has outgrown the current apron size and configuration. In just one instance, the King Air 200 aircraft, along with other common users of similar dimensions, are larger than the current tie downs, often requiring only every other tie down to be utilized. Urgent pavement rehabilitation is also necessary to accommodate the stress from larger aircraft, further emphasizing the need for timely intervention. This request is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as the rehabilitation and expansion will significantly increase safety for passengers and crew members by reducing the likelihood of aircraft collisions and ground service accidents, improve operational efficiency by enhancing apron flow and minimizing interference during taxiing, and positively influence economic development, tourism, and connectivity within the state of Wyoming.

Member Certification Form: 

Project Name: Snow King Complete Street Project

Requested Amount: $1,240,000

Intended Recipient: Town of Jackson

Explanation of the Request:  This request would allow for improving sewer infrastructure along Snow King Avenue as part of a broader Complete Street project. Specifically, these infrastructure improvements would include replacing aged iron water and sanitary sewer mains. The broader project will design and construct improvements along Scott Lane and Maple Way from the intersection at Snow King Ave to the new Post Office for bicycle, pedestrian, and ADA access. Construction will be coordinated with water and wastewater utility upgrades in the corridor. This specific funding request will help cover the costs of sewer infrastructure upgrades to occur concurrently with streetscape improvements. The project area is one of the most prominent and concerning "safety hotspots" in the Town bike and pedestrian network. The broader project will boost safety for all roadway users, but especially bicyclists and pedestrians; enhance accessibility to downtown Jackson; and promote watershed health by improving sanitary sewer infrastructure to mitigate negative impacts to the Flat Creek Watershed to benefit all of Wyoming. This request is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds as it will allow for the completion of adequate sewer collection infrastructure to convey sewage to the Town's permitted Wastewater Treatment Plant, protecting Flat Creek and the Snake River from water quality impairments related to human waste.

Member Certification Form: 

Project Name: Canyon Hills Road and 14th Street Rehabilitation

Requested Amount: $1,600,000

Intended Recipient: Town of Thermopolis

Explanation of the Request:  14th Street, which turns into Canyon Hills Road, is a major artery running north-south on the west side of town. These roads have not only fallen into disrepair but also lack a road base to support them, necessitating total reconstruction and rehabilitation to ensure their functionality both now and into the future. These roads service the entire town, but namely the Fire Department, the Town’s Search and Rescue operation, the Hot Springs County Middle School, and an emergency helipad. Notably, Thermopolis' Volunteer Fire and Search and Rescue Departments, which sit directly on 14th Street, in addition to the Town's Police Department, must contend with this disrepair, severely impacting emergency response times. As emergencies unfold, first responders are forced to slow down to avoid risking injury or damage to equipment from potholes and other obstacles. This request is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as it will rehabilitate this critical stretch of roadway, improve emergency response times, provide a foundation for economic growth in both the Town and County as a whole, and make travel throughout the town safer for townspeople and passers through.

Member Certification Form: 

Project Name: Fort Laramie Canal Tunnel Restoration

Requested Amount: $21,900,000

Intended Recipient: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Explanation of the Request:  Originally constructed over a century ago by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, this canal is critical federal infrastructure serving over 100,000 acres of highly productive farmland in Wyoming and Nebraska, including 50% of all irrigated lands within Goshen County, Wyoming—the state's leader in agricultural production, alfalfa production, and livestock sales. In July 2019, Tunnel #2 experienced a catastrophic collapse, halting the delivery of irrigation water and causing severe economic impacts totaling approximately $111 million (in 2025 dollars). Temporary repairs, which Goshen Irrigation District (GID) has already invested nearly $8 million of its own funds to implement, restored partial service but continue to degrade under heavy use, which presents ongoing risks of another catastrophic failure. Furthermore, the temporary repairs have limited irrigation capacity to just 85% of the original total capacity. A complete loss of irrigation services for a full season would have a devastating economic impact of at least $333 million across the region. Federal funding for this essential infrastructure restoration project is justified because it directly safeguards federal assets, significantly reduces the risk of costly future failures, and protects the economic stability of agricultural communities. This request is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as it aligns with federal priorities by ensuring infrastructure resilience, promoting rural economic sustainability, and mitigating severe financial burdens on local farmers and regional economies.

Member Certification Form: 

Project Name: WY 210 Rehabilitation

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Intended Recipient: Wyoming Department of Transportation

Explanation of the Request:  The request will result in complete pavement rehabilitation across a 10-mile stretch, providing for a safer road with a smoother ride quality. Rehabilitation will ensure this important section of road remains in a state of good repair while enhancing safety, especially for those who use the road in the wintertime to access cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and other winter recreation areas. This request is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as it will ensure this roadway remains safe and in good condition, which is paramount for this popular route connecting Cheyenne and Laramie and facilitating access for locals and visitors alike to nearby recreation opportunities all year long.

Member Certification Form: 

Project Name: US 287 Pavement Rehabilitation - Lander to Fort Washakie

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Intended Recipient: Wyoming Department of Transportation

Explanation of the Request:  This request will result in pavement rehabilitation across an 8-mile stretch of US 287 between Lander and Fort Washakie in Fremont County, WY, resulting in improved pavement condition, safety, ride quality, and overall level of service. Rehabilitation is needed on this critical US highway as it serves growing numbers of traffic from nearby residents, including on the Wind River Reservation, and tourists traveling to/from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. This request is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as it will guarantee the pavement continues to be in good condition, ensuring safe travel for both tourists and commuters alike.

Member Certification Form: