New Poll Shakes Up an Old Wyoming Myth: Voters Want Growth — And Action

The original story by Alyssa Tolman for Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

Turns out the “keep Wyoming small” mantra isn’t as universal as it sounds. A new statewide poll from the Wyoming Business Council suggests most residents want to see their communities grow — economically and even in population — and they’re ready for local leaders to do something about it.

Released Oct. 15, the survey of 514 registered voters took the temperature on everything from job creation and housing to youth retention and the state’s overall economic mood. The headline finding surprised even the folks who commissioned it: sixty-five percent said they support growing Wyoming’s population to spur new opportunities and businesses for themselves, friends and families. That runs straight against the long-held belief that Wyomingites prefer to slam the brakes on growth.

WBC CEO Josh Dorrell said the council launched the poll to test that exact myth.

“We should do our homework,” he explained. “If that’s the hypothesis, let’s validate it.”

What came back was a picture of a state that still loves its open spaces and short commutes, but is increasingly hungry for a broader, sturdier economy. Seventy-nine percent want their community to take strong action to grow jobs and the local economy, and seventy-three percent envision a future with more people and businesses moving in, bringing new services along with them.

That appetite sits alongside real anxiety. Three out of four respondents described the economy as stagnant or in decline over the past year. Nearly half pointed to cost of living as the top challenge. Housing shot up as a pressure point too, with about a third naming availability as their most pressing local need. Dorrell argues the way forward isn’t ducking those tensions but leaning into solutions, acknowledging that a bigger population will squeeze a tight housing market and then fixing what’s fixable — often local regulations and fees that slow building or add costs.

Cheyenne Chamber chief Dale Steenbergen sees that dynamic on the ground. He credits Cheyenne’s relative strength to military presence and proximity to Denver, but says city rules and rising demand from newcomers paying premium prices have strained supply. The bigger challenge, he adds, is spreading Cheyenne’s momentum to other communities.

“We’ve got to figure out how to copy that in other parts of the state,” he said, pointing to places like Rock Springs and, to a lesser degree, Gillette or Cody as candidates.

The poll also reveals a public that wants action from City Hall and the courthouse — and knows the bench is thin. Seventy-nine percent back decisive local steps, even if that means leaning on fifth- and sixth-penny sales taxes to fund growth projects. Yet forty-five percent doubt their community has the capacity to manage growth well, while thirty-nine percent place the development burden squarely on local government. To Dorrell, that mismatch means communities will need to get creative, pull more people into the process and test “unconventional” approaches that blend public, private and grassroots muscle.

There’s near-unanimity on one priority: keeping young people in Wyoming. Ninety percent said it’s important for local governments to invest in programs that retain or attract recent graduates. Dorrell thinks it starts with more quality jobs — and not just a first job, but career mobility so young workers don’t feel stuck. Past WBC research found students also weigh “third places” and amenities when they choose where to live, so main streets, parks and cultural scenes matter, too.

With a clearer read on public sentiment, the Business Council plans to brief state leaders and keep polling to track shifts over time. The goal, Dorrell said, is to translate the appetite for growth into investments in jobs and infrastructure tailored to what residents say they want, not just what the loudest voices demand. He also invited Wyomingites to share their own growth stories through the WBC’s “Team of Thousands” effort.

“Sometimes, in Wyoming, it feels lonely to want growth,” he said. “But there are a lot of people out there who want Wyoming to grow and have a lot of job opportunities in the future.”

If the poll is right, that “lonely” crowd may be the silent majority — and it’s ready for results.