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Four new and expanded businesses are planned for Gateway West, the retail business park near the water tower on the west end of town. Combined, those businesses — a restaurant, a high-tech car wash, an agriculture equipment retailer and a motor …
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Good news mixed with bad recently regarding Powell’s business community and economic health.
Four new and expanded businesses are planned for Gateway West, the retail business park near the water tower on the west end of town. Combined, those businesses — a restaurant, a high-tech car wash, an agriculture equipment retailer and a motor sports store — will create an estimated 37 new jobs and attract business from Powell and the surrounding area. All four were up for consideration last week at the City of Powell’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
It is good to see more businesses planned for Gateway West, which was created more than a decade ago to facilitate economic development in town and create an attractive entrance into Powell. But, with the downturn of the economy, the business park has remained mostly vacant fields. It’s likely that these businesses will provide an impetus to further economic development in the area, and that is welcome news.
On the flip side, three downtown businesses closed recently or will be closing soon, and The Merc recently downsized its operations from two buildings to one. Those are difficult realities for the downtown area. Fewer businesses mean fewer attractions to bring people downtown, thereby reducing foot traffic and businesses’ ability to attract drop-in customers.
Powell needs a vibrant downtown for the community to remain healthy and attractive. To that end, a group of Powell merchants and business representatives is meeting for a brainstorming session at 10 a.m. today (Thursday) in the vacant side of The Merc building. The meeting, facilitated by the Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce, is designed to gather ideas on how to market the community to visitors, locals and businesses.
Chamber Director Jaime Schmeiser encourages you to share your vision for Powell as well. Call Schmeiser at the chamber at 754-3494, email her at jaime@powellchamber.org or send a letter to the chamber at P.O. Box 1258, Powell, WY 82435.
Your idea could help provide guidance for a positive direction for downtown Powell and the community as a whole.
