State shooting complex seeks more funds

CODY (WNE) – The State Shooting Complex Development and Oversight Task Force, established by the state Legislature, has plans underway to secure an additional $5 million in funding for the SSC project south of Cody.

At last Thursday’s SSC board meeting, Wyoming Sen. Dan Laursen said the task force plans to present an amendment to the Joint Appropriations Bill to draw $2.5 million from the state tourism fund and an additional $2.5 million from the Game and Fish Department.

The $5 million were approved for the project in a 2023 bill for the SSC and are separate from the $10 million OK’d for the project this past spring. Those funds must be allocated prior to June 2026, Laursen said.

“We need approval from the Game and Fish Commission, even though it’s in the bill, but we’ll have approval from them as far as I know from everyone that we’ve been talking to,” he said.

An additional $5 million from the state General Fund was appropriated for the project in the 2023 bill, however the SSC task force does not plan to seek those dollars, Laursen said.

“We don’t need a third bite at the apple, I’d be more than happy with the five (million dollars from the state tourism fund and G&F),” SSC board member Bryan Mick said.

Laursen advised that if the $5 million were approved, the SSC board should set aside $2.5 million to temporarily supplement the operational budget for the project. SSC board chairman Glenn Ross said the funds would be sufficient to help finance construction and operational expenses, and allow the board to “have a really successful project.”

This story was published on August 18, 2025.