CARES funds

A list of businesses receiving CARES Act COVID-19 business relief in Thermopolis and other towns around the state of Wyoming relief is available to the public. The Independent Record has been contacted by members of the public who are questioning the legitimacy of businesses who received the funds and their amounts.

The Wyoming Business Council (WBC) is putting several measures in place to mitigate and manage against fraudulent claims.

As part of those measures, select businesses that received funds through five grant programs will be audited. Those include: the Interruption, Relief, Mitigation, Agriculture and Endurance funds.

Anyone found guilty of fraudulently claiming funds could face up to 30 years in prison and up to $1 million in fines.

WBC is offering a “safe harbor” for businesses to return funds, which has resulted in $500,000 in returned money.

Any businesses wishing to return funds can do so at wyobizrelief.org. A return of complete funds will not require any supporting documentation. The final deadline for returning funds is Dec. 18.

A tip site is also now available at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNwTWUgtAUxQzGLPCu21kczEkuTN2SCIEJ1tF4pAVTEEIeig/viewform for people who would like to report a business that has performed possibly fraudulent activity in its grant application. All information disclosed is anonymous, but is subject to review and disclosure under the Wyoming Public Records Act.