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 or other local governmental entity, 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 or cooperative agreements for 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, loans or cooperative agreements 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.