A man bicycles past the Hotel Virginia building Friday afternoon in downtown Casper.
Wyoming could lose $3.47 million in federal funding for urban renewal, homeless shelters and food banks if Congress approves President Donald Trumpas budget recommendations.
Trump has proposed eliminating the Community Development Block Grant program, which provides funds to state and local governments.
But Joy Clark, who administers Casperas CDBG funds, said thatas not accurate in Wyoming.
Clark said that 95 percent of the money Casper received from the program last year went to serve low-income residents in some form a higher than the 70 percent of funds required to be spent on that population.
aWe have clearly been addressing the highest-need population here for years,a Clark said.
Trump wants to cut the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which oversees the CDBG program, by 13.2 percent.
But Congress, not the president, is in charge of drafting and approving the actual budget. Matt Mead said in a statement responding to the proposed elimination of the CDBG program.
aWe are watching those federal announcements very closely,a said Liz Becher, Casperas assistant city manager.
Becher said the city will draft its upcoming budget assuming that the CDBG funding will continue.
In addition to helping low-income residents, Casper has used the funds for improving the city core, including downtown and the Old Yellowstone District, through sidewalk improvements and matching funds for facade improvements.
Clark said the city has partnered with the owners of several historic buildings in Casper, including the Coca-Cola building, the historic Virginia Hotel and the old fruit warehouse that now houses Raccaas pizzeria, Art 321 and Urban Bottle.
aIt has to be used for a commercial business with the owner involved and only for specific rehab like windows that are very aged and leaking and would prevent the public coming into the business from being safe,a Clark said.
Widauf, in Cheyenne, said that while the CDBG funding went toward essential projects, many in the public are unaware of it.
aI try to get the awareness out there, but it kind of flies under,a Widauf said.
