January 2025 Newsletter
Happy New Year, Casper,
The Farley household spent the holiday season throwing Hail Mary's in Fantasy Football and praying for snow in Casper. &, although only one worked out in our favor, the slow time together made up for it! I hope you too had a fun and relaxing time away with your friends and families!
As we ambitiously step into a new year, I can't help but be incredibly energized by all that lies ahead for our city. From profound grand openings and relocation projections to expansion to our current business landscape and initiatives; 2025 is looking to be monumental.
If you're looking to Grow Casper like never before this year, I encourage you to connect and collaborate with local leaders in your industry, invite your peers to join our Advance Casper Member Community, and show up where your passions and talents will make a difference. Remember economic development takes a village, and no one has the power to write Casper's future like all of us, together.
Finally, don't hesitate to reach out to our team for anything this year. We're always here to support and serve you!
Sincerely,
Justin
Justin Farley
CEO | President
justin@advancecasper.com
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NEW & NOTEWORTHY IN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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1. Western Sign and Design Relocates to a New Home
Join us in celebrating our member, Western Sign and Design, on their new location at 4981 Highway St. in Mills! After seven years of operation on E Collins Dr., this hyper local, family-owned company has relocated to a new home to support their expanding signage business. We're looking forward to witnessing all of the growth and success that lies ahead for Western Sign and Design! Stay tuned for their grand opening, and check out their featured Member Spotlight over on the Advance Casper Blog.
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2. Compete Casper (Formerly Proud to Host the Best) Bids on Wyoming High School State Tournaments in February
Hosting high school tournaments in Casper has become tradition. For decades, the Oil City has been home to a collection of state championship tournaments including: Volleyball, Wrestling, 1A/2A Basketball, 3A/4A Basketball, Track & Field, Marching Band, Spirit, and Art Symposium. Together the 8 tournaments total an estimated economic impact of $24M annually. From sold out stadiums and packed parking lots to a parade of spirited buses down 2nd Street; it's hard to miss a high school tournament in town. However, it's not by chance or luck that our city draws these events. We fight for them!
Compete Casper was established to do just that! Every four years, the committee of passionate Casper-area residents bids on this collection of state tournaments to the Wyoming High School Activities Association (WHSAA). For the 2025 bid cycle coming up in February, Compete Casper hopes to not only continue to host, but raise over $227,000 in sponsorship funds to support growing efforts in labor, hospitality, and the professional and collegiate facilities that make it all possible in our community.
We encourage you to support Compete Casper and do your part in 2025 through sponsorship and/or volunteering. To learn more and get involved, please attend our Quarterly Breakfast on January 23rd at the Casper Country Club where Shelby Kraus, the Business Sales Manager for Visit Casper and Administrator will be speaking more on Compete Casper's initiatives (see below).
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3. WYO Sports Ranch is Officially Open for Operations!
For the last year, the WYO Sports Ranch has been hard at work not only taking shape on the hill; but hiring staff, developing programs and initiatives, and raising capital. However, the wait is over!
The WYO Sports Ranch is officially open for operations! The facility is taking off with a packed events calendar full of: youth tournaments and clinics, trade shows, business conferences and more. Yet, the 52 million dollar facility is projected to be so much more than a regional youth sports hub; it's destined to become a beacon of opportunity and growth for our city.
To learn more, read our recent blog post "Fostering Community Wealth: The Economic Impact of WYO Sports Ranch in Casper", and join us in welcoming the WYO Sports Ranch to Casper!
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Advance Casper Quarterly Breakfast | January 23rd @ 7:00am
You're invited to our Quarterly Breakfast, on Thursday, January 23rd at 7:00am at the Casper Country Club. Come together with the Casper business community over breakfast while we not only discuss what's on the horizon for economic development in 2025 and vote on our board seats; but hear from Annette Pitts, the new CEO of Visit Casper, and Shelby Kraus, Business Sales Manager for Visit Casper and Administrator for Compete Casper. Registration is free. Members are welcome to invite a plus one who is just as invested in Casper’s growth as we are!
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COMMUNITY & MEMBER EVENTS | |
Free Ice Skating & Skate Rentals | January 1st -12th
Ice skating and skate rentals will be FREE for the remainder of the season starting January 1st at David Street Station during open skate hours! Community members and visitors will get to experience gliding around on the ice at no charge, all thanks to Visit Casper. Bundle up, grab a hot cocoa & meet us where Casper comes together!
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Josh Turner at the Ford Wyoming Center | January 25th @ 7:30pm
MCA Nashville recording artist and once-in-a-generation vocalist, Josh Turner, will be at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper on Saturday, January 25th as part of his nationwide "This Country Music Thing Tour" with special guest Will Jones. Rally your friends, dust off your boots, and get tickets before the concert sells out.
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Casper International Film Festival | January 31st - February 2nd
Celebrate the art of film at the Casper International Film Festival, showcasing a diverse range of stories and talents from both Wyoming and around the world. This year, in addition to the films which will be showing at Frontier Brewing Co., the event will boast film workshops, q & a's with select filmmakers, a reception to celebrate Casper's high school film makers, and a premier event for the recently filmed, Pacifica (2024)! This movie was made right here in Wyoming and features several Wyoming locals. Mark your calendars and gather more details at 5150' Local!
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