§ 9-12-801 — Wyoming community facilities program; purpose; creation; administration by council; rulemaking authority; eligible projects

(a) It is the purpose of this article to assist
communities to preserve former school and government facilities
that have existing or future community uses.
(b) The council shall administer a Wyoming community
facilities program as provided by this article, subject to the
approval of grants and loans by the state loan and investment
board as provided by this article.
(c) Any qualifying community with a demonstrated need for
a community facility, including a city, town, county, joint
powers board, other local governmental entity or the Eastern
Shoshone or Northern Arapaho tribe, or the cooperative tribal
governing body, may submit an application to the council for a
grant or loan under this program on forms prescribed by and
subject to rules promulgated by the council. Application by a
joint powers board shall require the approval of all
participating agencies to the joint powers agreement.
(d) Grants or loans may be recommended by the council and
awarded by the state loan and investment board for economic
development community facilities projects which provide:
(i) Space for community gatherings and functions;
(ii) Appropriate recreational, swimming and athletic
facilities for community members, particularly youth;
(iii) Other functions or uses determined by the
council to be consistent with the purposes of this article.
(e) In adopting rules and recommending grants and loans
under this article, the council shall require all projects to be
related to economic development or enhancement of quality of
life in a community. Projects may consist of:
(i) The expansion, renovation or remodeling of
existing surplus government facilities;
(ii) The purchase of an interest in the expansion,
renovation or conversion of school facilities to the extent the
facilities exceed statewide school building and facility
adequacy standards established by the school facilities
commission under W.S. 21-15-115. No ownership interest to the
project or facility under a project shall remain with the school
district upon expenditure of any funds under this program for
any project.
(f) All grants or loans recommended by the council shall
be referred by the council to the state loan and investment
board for final approval or disapproval in accordance with this
article.