Jan. 17–CHEYENNE — Construction could begin this summer on an eight-story Hilton Garden Inn hotel downtown after state officials approved a grant and loan package Thursday.

The Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board quickly approved funding for construction of an elevated walkway.

The $15 million to $18 million hotel will be built at the corner of Pioneer Avenue and 17th Street. The walkway will go from the Jack R. Spiker Parking Garage across Pioneer Avenue to the second floor of the future Hilton Garden Inn.

The Wyoming Business Council administers the grant program.

Rob Uehran, president of Spirit Hospitality LLC, said he’s pleased with the board’s decision. His company is developing the hotel.

“We’re targeting June 1 as a construction start” for the hotel, he said. He hopes to start earlier and expects the hotel will be finished by spring or summer 2015.

“We don’t see any concerns or any real obstructions,” Uehran said Thursday.

Construction of the hotel was contingent on the proposal to build the walkway.

“It was definitely a mandate of Hilton” for the hotel to have a connection with parking, he said. “This has been a great experience. We’re real happy to be a part of it.”

Alliance Construction will build the hotel, Uehran said. The company is based in Denver and has a presence in Cheyenne.

The Hilton Garden Inn will have about 121 rooms and 4,000 square feet of banquet and meeting space, he said.

Dale Steenbergen, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, supports the decision by the State Loan and Investment Board to approve the grant. Steenbergen, who has a background in economic development, was instrumental in recruiting the project to the downtown.

“It’s wonderful that the SLIB board approved such a great project for downtown Cheyenne,” he said. “It will be a great anchor for that part of Cheyenne and a great addition to the community.”

The state grant and loan combination totals $750,000. Of that, $562,248 will come from a state grant through the Business Council. The remainder, which is about $187,500, will come from a loan from the Business Council.

The city of Cheyenne will own the walkway and will lease it to the hotel. The city will use the money it receives to recoup construction costs.

The city also stands to make an additional $78,000 over the life of the lease, based on information given to the state board.

Anja Bendel of Cheyenne LEADS said the walkway’s design will complement both the hotel and the parking structure. Cheyenne LEADS is the economic development arm for Cheyenne and Laramie County.

The enclosed walkway will have heat and air conditioning, with an exterior mostly made of glass, Bob Bradshaw, special projects director for the city of Cheyenne, said Thursday.

Cheyenne LEADS issued a request for proposals to build the walkway two weeks ago. The request was contingent on getting the grant and loan money, Bendel said.

Three construction firms responded to the RFP to build the walkway, Bradshaw said.

They are:

-Alliance Construction Solutions of Wyoming in Cheyenne.

-American Contracting in Cheyenne.

-Reiman Corp. in Cheyenne.

A committee of city employees will review applications this week and over the weekend, Bradshaw said.

Committee members will interview representatives from the companies Wednesday and pick the contractor that day.

Selection committee members are: Bradshaw, Rob Geringer, Matt Ashby and Steven McDonald.

Spirit Hospitality LLC has six properties open now, Uehran said. That includes a Super 8 motel in Wheatland.

Other facilities include a Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn, Candlewood Suites and Comfort Inn in the Colorado cities of Loveland and Greeley.