MIC moves forward at the MTC

A special meeting was held last Wednesday to discuss in executive session employee evaluations, but first, the council took the opportunity to transfer the deed for part of the playground area within the Moorcroft Town Center (MTC) property to Moorcroft Interfaith Community (MIC) leaders Monte Reichenberg and Randy Blakeman.

In December 2023, when the MIC first approached the governing body about the possibility of purchasing this space to better facilitate food storage and distribution to people in need, Mayor Ben Glenn set one of two specific restrictions on the deed. Namely that, within five years from the sale date, the project must be, "Started and moving forward...breaking ground – constructing the project, applying for a building permit [for] the structure and supplying the plans."

The second issue previously addressed was that the property must also be used for the community in the future. Town Attorney Pat Carpenter drew the deed to include the possible dissolution of the MIC as a "trigger event", initiating the return of title to the town.

The MIC had applied for a grant around that time for strategic planning, food replacement as well as seed money for building. The group were awarded the funding for planning and food replacement, but had to reapply for the grant for building until the land title was signed over to the group.

They are awaiting the application period now. "It is still a potential resource for us," said Reichenberg later.

Glenn Construction worked with the group to create the two-phase building schematic they are using. According to Reichenberg, "Phase One is to be a 42' by 100' building with 16-18 foot ceiling. It will be a drive-through building which will allow trucks to unload and cars to drive through for pick up in a climate-controlled setting. This building will provide space for food storage on both sides, staging of food in the middle and two drive through lanes, all under roof."

The pastor explained the advantages to this design: "This will help protect our food and volunteers from the extremes of Wyoming weather patterns. We currently do all unloading of trucks and staging of food outside, which results in damage to food and often much discomfort for our volunteers. We have conducted pantries at minus 50 and well over 100. Fresh produce doesn't do well at the former and frozen products don't do well in the latter. And volunteers suffer in both extremes... Phase One is projected to cost $485,000 to $500,000."

"Phase Two," he described the completion of the work, "is proposed to be a 40' by 80' building that will 'T' into Phase One and provide more food storage, housing for refrigeration and freezer units, office space and a restroom. That cost is estimated to be $500,000 to $525,000."

The MIC is currently in the process of starting a building campaign, seeking cash and in-kind donations for this project as the grant, if awarded, only cover "seed" money and the group hopes to "have funds in hand before building begins".

For more information, please call Randy Blakeman at 307 756 2066 and donations can be mailed to

Moorcroft Interfaith Community, PO Box 1056, Moorcroft, WY 82721.