2021 in Review: Microsoft TechSpark Wyoming

Looking back on 2021, Wyoming has shown incredible resolve and grit rebounding from COVID-19 challenges, and our strength in community continues. Microsoft's TechSpark Wyoming program focuses on using technology to solve some of the toughest challenges in rural areas. We’ve increased access to computer science training, helped Wyoming start-ups create quality jobs, increased broadband access, and expanded upskilling opportunities for better jobs.?Often these efforts take years to seed and cultivate before they reach their full impact years down the road.?It has been a very impactful year and I'm honored to be a part of it.

One of the most transformational public-private projects we’ve watched quietly advance over the last several years is the redevelopment in the West Edge District to the west of downtown Cheyenne. We have seen many seeds planted in the past decade that are beginning to grow into something special:

? The 2012 voters’ approval of $4.8M in sixth-penny tax revenues to couple with $9M in public grants

? Community adoption of the West Edge District vision

? Creation of the Civic Commons Park and other key stormwater/brownfield infrastructure

? Millions of dollars from private investors renovating high potential buildings along the railway as well as building new structures altogether

? The downtown addition of electric scooters helping pedestrians connect between Cheyenne Depot Plaza, the West Edge District and Frontier Park, bringing the best of Cheyenne closer

? Several important businesses like Warehouse Twenty One, West Edge Collective, Blacktooth Brewing Company, and in the Old Cheyenne Elevator Building, both Hammock Design + Fine Art Studio & Blossom Yoga driving foot traffic to the area?

? The Dineen family’s investment in their Dineen Building and creation of several residential housing units in the Lotus Townhome project

? Paint Slingers and other private companies adding dozens of murals to freshen up downtown and add some style, and

? Edge Fest and West Edge Collective Hip Hop Concert series bringing top shelf national talent and Front Range concert goers to the area.

Warehouse Twenty One's cutting edge manufacturing facility anchors the middle of the West Edge

And this is only the beginning. We are eager and excited to launch several more projects on the horizon, including:

? Connectivity between the Cheyenne Greenway, Depot Plaza and the West Edge

? Breaking ground on the Children’s Museum of Cheyenne

? The renovation of the historic Pumphouse Park area and the eventual sidewalk, fencing and landscaping funded by the 2012 tax revenues, and

? With passage of the recent federal infrastructure package, Cheyenne and the Front Range of Colorado may obtain passenger rail, and in a perfect world, this could mean an anchor in the West Edge of an Amtrack station.?

Over the last year and while working on the West Edge District redevelopment, I’ve learned three key takeaways:?First, it is important to establish a North Star vision that the community can adopt and work toward.?Second, a vision is just thin air without highly energetic, follow-through believers to build the bedrock foundation beneath the concept.?Third, like investing money or building relationships, seismic impact only occurs when compound interest is built up over long time horizons. Simple recognition that the desired impact will occur over a twenty-year timeframe helps set community expectations and reminds us to celebrate each beacon we reach while working toward our North Star.??

As 2022 approaches, full of new challenges and opportunities to lift up our community, I look forward to working with Mayor Collins, our Microsoft partners and private investors to continue supporting the creation of murals and access to free music, seeking the best way to bring connectivity to the area, and landing the West Edge vision. If we all just pause to look at how far we've come, we’ll realize we have the resolve to come together as a community and build the Cheyenne we want.??

About TechSpark

Through the TechSpark program, Microsoft partners with communities to understand their unique regional challenges and to explore solutions, programs, and partnerships that will be most effective locally to ensure everyone can benefit from the digital economy.?