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.