(Riverton, Wyo.) – The Riverton Economic and Community Development Association earlier in 2018 hosted a team of University of Wyoming professors who were working to keep UW grads in Wyoming. They had launched a “Live Local Work Local” pilot project in Sweetwater County that brought a couple dozen students to Rock Springs/Green River to show them on-the-ground job opportunities.
Impressed with the project, REDCA and IDEA Inc. officials sought to do a similar Live Local Work Local program locally. After months of planning, 13 UW students and five UW Faculty members visited Riverton on Nov. 4-5 to visit area businesses and manufacturers, and to learn about the area.
“It was a great opportunity for us to showcase our community and the many businesses and career opportunities that we have here,” said Kevin Kershisnik, the city’s economic development director at IDEA, Inc. “Many of the students had never been out of Southeast Wyoming so this was a good chance to let them see our country and know about the opportunities here.”
Students visited a variety of locations including:
- Wind River Hotel and Casino
- Northern Arapaho Experience Museum
- Heard a report on Wyoming’s geology and mineral potential from St. Rep. and geologist David Miller
- Legacy Molding’s manufacturing facility
- Brunton’s compass manufacturing facility
- Pertech Industries manufacturing plant
- Pitchengine and County10.com
- Chemtrade Sulphuric Acid Plant
- Nucor Drilling
- Classic Air Medical at Riverton Regional Airport
- SageWest Hospital
- Devon Energy, Beaver Creek Field and operations
- Wyoming Honor Farm
- Central Wyoming College
The students represented a variety of academic fields including:
• Business Administration
• Petroleum Engineering
• Psychology and Sociology
• Geology
• Chemical Engineering
• International Studies
• Geographic Information Systems