Local Airmen Need Places to Live

The Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce created a solution in partnership with FE Warren to provide housing to local airmen and military.

The City of Cheyenne and Laramie County’s economy is heavily impacted by the military. Being the 2nd and 4th largest employers in the State of Wyoming, FE Warren Air Force Base and the Wyoming Air National Guard combined rank number 1. Prioritizing housing for the employees of this large entity is important and the Enhanced Use Lease will provide a solution. This development will be a mixed-use property. It will include housing for local service men and women, as well as offering a prime location for commercial businesses. Additionally, the property will be a new tax-generating plot of land.

“We have been going through the community planning process, one of the things we have figured out is that in the last 10 years in Cheyenne, WY the growth is from military and government. We know that 650 of those jobs we located here.” presented CEO/President of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, Dale Steenbergen.

One Councilman expressed that in his role he doesn’t have control over the rental market rates. The rental market is known to be higher within the City of Cheyenne because there is a high demand for rental properties. The structural difference in the Enhanced Use Lease allows the military to place a requirement on rental rates of housing to keep them affordable within airman’s housing allowance. This housing will fit the lifestyle of young airmen and/or professionals and at this time the developers are hoping to build nearly 350 units. Overall the aim is to fulfill the housing deficit for this particular demographic and to strengthen the workforce serving local military employers.

Upon the unanimous approval of the resolution, the City of Cheyenne will next embark on the Business Ready Community Grant for further funding. This effort is championed by the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce and is supported by the Wyoming Wranglers program. Learn more by contacting the Chamber at (307) 638-3388.

Photo By: #IDLERPHOTO