Moving to Wyoming

[Sancte]

Although this has been in the discussion stage for over 36 months, my family and I have decided to move to WY by this time next year. We all were excited about this from the beginning, especially the children.  What helped my wife completely with the decision were current events as well as research.  She also read the novels Molon Labe! by Boston T. Party and Patriots by J.W. Rawles which helped her visualize the possible effects of our current situation. 

We have established the date (1 JUL 2009 or sooner) and location of the LD (Illinois/Iowa state line) and initiated the backward planning process (what has to be done and by when to hit the LD on time).  What we need now is a more defined physical OBJ other than "WY".  Any input from the group would be helpful. 

Here are a few of our general location goals:

>Terrain that can support both farming and ranching
>Go off grid through the use of geothermal and solar
>Within 100 miles from the Montana border
>No closer than 1 hour from urban center yet no further than 2 hours
>Aformenetioned urban center skilled labor pool can support both high tech as well as manufacturing jobs (I intend to bring a business with us that would eventually bring jobs as well)

I wish we could make it to the annual event in June.  However, we will be taking some time in August to conduct a recon of potential locales.

Looking forward to meeting some FSWers in the future.

Sancte 

[308shooter]

welcome to the site

what kind of business will you be bringing ?

[Sancte]

One is a technology & service based business that I am presently doing and the other is a light manufacturing based business (will be stamping, molding and light assembly) that I am developing the market for now.

[rhodges]

Here are a few of our general location goals:

>Terrain that can support both farming and ranching
>Go off grid through the use of geothermal and solar
>Within 100 miles from the Montana border
>No closer than 1 hour from urban center yet no further than 2 hours
>Aformenetioned urban center skilled labor pool can support both high tech as well as manufacturing jobs (I intend to bring a business with us that would eventually bring jobs as well)

For what it's worth, I happen to like Hulett.
There is a lot of ranching and farming, probably mainly alfalfa and barley. 
There is no geothermal activity that I know about, but we get as much sun as anyone else. 
Alzada, MT is about twenty miles up HWY 112.

The closest towns and cities are:
Moorcroft and Sundance (pop 1000 people each): 50 and 40 miles away,
Spearfish, SD (pop 10,000): about 52 miles,
Gillette, WY (pop 20,000): about 70 miles,
Rapid City, SD (pop 62,000): about 90 miles.

As far as a "skilled labor pool" goes, I guess that depends on which skills you need, but you might be pleasantly surprised.

[Sancte]

Thanks for the info.  For what little I know of folks in Wyoming, they seem very "capable" and I doubt there will be a lack of those with skill.  I will look into Hulett now.  Again, thanks.

[wyomiles]

Howdy Sancte, welcome to FSW ! I'm with rhodges , anywhere in the North East corner might do.

[Sancte]

Thanks Wyomiles!  The northeast does look good.  We will be heading out to conduct a recon in WY no later than mid August and will be sure to go through Crook, Weston, Campbell, Johnson, Sheridan and Big Horn counties.  Again, thanks for your help.

[marciab]

If you have the time, check out Thermopolis in Hot Springs County.  Lots of land for sale and a new business center going in to support light manufacturing.  It is 192 miles from Billings, Mt., 132 mi. from Casper, WY.  There are some people here living off the grid.  It is a beautiful area.

[biathlon]

   Most of what you're looking for is in Thermopolis( Arapaho for "Big Jacuzzi") especially geothermal. Superb farmland and a serious good labor pool. Wages here are quite good though so you may have to offer perhaps more than you're used to. I'm in Laramie and mid aug will be real good for me to see you folks. I plan to move up north soon. Recon is a good idea. This place is unlike any other in the lower 48. 

[celeste]

Thermopolis is a greek word.  Thermo meaning heat and polis meaning city, urban center. 

[Pumpkihn]

Well, I'm out here in Iowa and am looking to make the move sometime in the not too distant future.  The idea of moving seems a little overwhelming.  First I need a job and a plan and how to get my family out there and whatnot.  Maybe the business that you're bringing with you could be the ticket to my time to move.  Maybe we could get in contact and discuss what type of people you're wanting to hire.  See if I'm a match.  Maybe we could make some kind of coordinated launch.

[Fran]

Here are a few of our general location goals:

>Terrain that can support both farming and ranching
>Go off grid through the use of geothermal and solar
>Within 100 miles from the Montana border
>No closer than 1 hour from urban center yet no further than 2 hours
>Aformenetioned urban center skilled labor pool can support both high tech as well as manufacturing jobs (I intend to bring a business with us that would eventually bring jobs as well)

Looking forward to meeting some FSWers in the future.

I am in Big Horn County and love it. I'm not sure if geothermal is urgent to you, but if it is a flexible point, you might really like Big Horn Cty. I am 75 miles from Billings, 15 miles from Powell, the land is excellent, whether is great, lots of ranching and farming. Yellowstone is 90 miles away. Skiing is 60 miles away. Land is affordable. I even know of a place with 50 acres, on a river, with a huge steel shop, and a very nice house and beautiful views for around $300K. If you want just land, it is even less.

[Sancte]

Thanks Fran.  When my plans are more firmed up for our recon in August, I'll let you know so we could take a look at this property as well as others in the area.  Again, thanks for taking the time to let me know more about Big Horn County.

All the best,  Sancte