In recent months, some of Wyoming’s state-level elected officials have repeatedly voiced that our state “doesn’t want amenities,” “doesn’t want growth,” and “should stay exactly the way it is.” That mindset is not only outdated, but it also threatens the future stability of Wyoming’s communities and economy.
Wyoming’s identity is important to all of us, but our future depends on more than preserving the past. We have a constituency that is being overlooked and increasingly pushed out, our next generation.
According to multiple state and national studies, Wyoming is experiencing one of the highest rates of young adult outmigration in the country. Young people who grew up in Wyoming are leaving not because they dislike the state, but because they cannot find the economic opportunities, housing, and basic amenities they need to build a life here.
We need to stop pretending that choosing ‘no growth’ keeps Wyoming strong. In reality, it's driving our young people to settle in other states where they see clearer career paths, more amenities, and better opportunities to raise a family. If we want a Wyoming that thrives for generations, we must give our young people a reason to stay.
Wyoming’s growing retiree population is a positive development and a welcome addition to communities across the state. Wyoming cannot rely on retirees alone to sustain its long-term economic health.
I welcome retirees with open arms, they bring experience, community involvement, and stability. But a healthy state can’t thrive on retirement alone. We need teachers, nurses, mechanics, tech workers, tradespeople, and entrepreneurs. We need young families buying homes, volunteering in our communities, and contributing to our workforce. If we lose them, we lose the very future of this state.
The Wyoming Legislature must embrace responsible growth, economic diversification, and the development of amenities that modern families expect, such as childcare options, broadband access, housing availability, recreation opportunities, and business-friendly infrastructure.
Wyoming’s values are worth protecting, but refusing to adapt is not the same as preserving who we are. If we continue rejecting new industries, resisting modern amenities, and discouraging investment, we’re choosing to decline over opportunity.
Growing Wyoming’s economy and enhancing community amenities does not mean sacrificing the state’s culture or identity.
We can expand opportunity without losing our character. We can keep Wyoming’s spirit alive while still creating a place where our kids and grandkids want to stay. That balance is not only possible, but also necessary.
As the legislative session approaches, I intend to advocate for policies that strengthen Wyoming’s workforce, invest in economic diversification, and support the needs of young families.
Our job as elected Representatives is not to freeze Wyoming in time; it is to ensure that the Wyoming we love survives through the people who will inherit it. And that starts with giving our young people a future here at home.
Rep. Lee Filer serves House District 44 in the Wyoming House of Representatives and lives in Cheyenne.
