We believe sustainable economic development is achieved through knowledgeable investing and great partnerships that support and engage the local community of entrepreneurs.
A partnership that a Consortium of Wyoming municipalities shares with the WSCN has been a catalyst for commercial businesses in Wyoming. The WSCN team professionally manages the original State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) allocation on behalf of our collection of municipalities. WSCN works to serve Wyoming small businesses with the capital necessary to obtain bank financing. Through this effort, the communities benefit from job creation/retention and the regional banks across Wyoming benefit from a flexible lending partner.
Kathy Lenz
Resource and Economic Development Manager for Sen. Cynthia Lummis
Our History
The U.S. Treasury Department created the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) in 2010. Out of this initiative, 17 municipalities joined together as a consortium to host the program in Wyoming. They selected Development Capital Networks (DCN) to form and administer the fund, which became the Wyoming Smart Capital Network (WSCN). DCN continues to manage WSCN capital access programs. The founding municipalities included Laramie, Casper, Cheyenne, Cody, Douglas, Edgerton, Gillette, Green River, Hanna, Hartville, Midwest, Pine Bluffs, Powell, Rawlins, Rock Springs, Sundance and Wheatland. In 2017, WSCN fully deployed its $13.2 million SSBCI allocation. This capital has leveraged over $117 million in private bank financing and seed capital. What began as an investment from the federal government, is now an evergreen fund that continues to re-invest in Wyoming small businesses.
In 2018, WSCN expanded its service area to include the 10 counties of the original 17 Wyoming municipalities. In 2020, with support from WSCN and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the
Rural Development Fund (RDF) was formed, expanding service to two additional counties. In 2021, RDF received a grant from the Economic Development Administration, with matching funds provided by WSCN, to deliver our program to the entire state. That same year, WSCN was invited to join the
Wyoming Community Navigator Program. The programs mission is to help traditionally underserved business communities hurt most by the pandemic recover, rebuild, and diversify Wyoming’s economy.
Interested in Wyoming Economic Development?
The recent stimulus bill is set to reauthorize the SSBCI program with additional funds. If you are interested in supporting WSCN in its efforts to bring capital to new and growing Wyoming companies, please .
Our Team draws on extensive experience to design, build and manage development funds that enhance regional economies.
Administrators and Managers
-Mark Huston
Enterprise Manager, Wyoming Smart Capital Network
+ Development Capital Networks, LLC
971-373-3321
Mark leads WSCN's development funds in Wyoming. His rich history includes roles as the Portfolio Manager for the Iowa Fund of Funds with Cimarron Capital Partners, the Managing Director of Cimarron Business Capital, and Director and former President of the National Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA).
For more than 20 years, Mark served as the Manager of Business Finance at the Oregon Economic Development Department. Under his management, thousands of Oregon companies were provided with over $1 billion of financing.
Mark received a Masters of Public Administration degree from Arizona State University and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Economics from the University of Idaho.
-Kendall Hutchinson
Development Loan Officer, Wyoming Smart Capital Network
307-315-8832
Kendall Hutchinson oversees and facilitates the WSCN’s finance programs. These activities include program marketing, underwriting, processing, compliance, portfolio management and relationship management for the WSCN Advisory Council and its banking network.
He holds an MBA and Bachelors of Science degree in Finance from the University of Wyoming and an Economic Development Finance Professional Certification.
Kendall values serving the needs of small businesses across his home state. Kendall makes his home in Casper, Wyoming.
-Jan Lehenbauer
Controller, Wyoming Smart Capital Network
Jan Lehenbauer, CPA, is the Controller for Development Capital Networks. She brings over 20 years' experience in accounting to DCN, having worked for a range of commercial enterprises managing financial reporting and budgeting, as well as conducting audits. Jan is a Certified Public Accountant, certified in Oklahoma.
Jan and her staff are responsible for the financial accounting for the DCN entities and sister organizations. This includes overseeing annual audits as well as ensuring tax returns are prepared and timely filed.
Jan received her Bachelor's degree in Accounting from the Colorado State University - Pueblo. She is a Colorado native, but has lived and worked in Oklahoma since 2011.
-Emily Kremers
Marketing and Education Manager, Wyoming Smart Capital Network
Emily Kremers is the Marketing and Education Manager for Wyoming Smart Capital Network. She is responsible for WSCN’s role in the Wyoming Community Navigator Pilot Program, funded by the Small Business Administration, to help traditionally underserved business communities hurt most by the pandemic recover, rebuild, and diversify Wyoming’s economy.
Emily’s focus is to increase access to WSCN’s Growth Capital Program through outreach to new lending partners across Wyoming and to increase the familiarity with bank financing options among small business owners, and the organizations that serve them.
Emily is a graduate of Sheridan College where she obtained an Associates of Business Marketing and is currently pursuing her Bachelors of Business Marketing from the University of Wyoming. She has had experience in web-based media and event, direct, business-to-business and business-to-consumer marketing for Kremers Agency representing American National Insurance, located in Buffalo, WY.
Emily recognized the great value of supporting small business and creating opportunities for those in her home state. Emily grew up in Kaycee, WY and now resides in Buffalo.
We know that innovation thrives in communities
rich in capital, talent and knowledge.
Advisory Council
Janine Jordan
City Manager
City of Laramie
WSCN Advisory Council Chair
Leslie Brumage
Finance Officer
City of Cody
Monty Gilbreath
Recreation Director, Converse County SD
City of Douglas
Michelle Henderson
Finance Director
City of Gillette
Ann Calvert
Town Clerk
Town of Hanna
Kaela Nelson
Finance Director
City of Powell
Tom Sarvey
Finance Officer
City of Rawlins
Rural Development Fund Board of Directors
Christi Haswell
Sheridan County Commissioner
Rural Development Fund Interim Vice Chair
Affiliates
Cimarron Capital Partners is a pioneer in strategic fund investing with over 25 years of experience designing and managing venture capital and private equity programs for regional economies.
Rural Development Fund supports small businesses in Wyoming with capital from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Fund anticipates additional monies will be made available in the near future to serve the entire state.