SEEDA to Cancel Vacutech Expansion Project at Request of Company

The Sheridan Economic and Educational Development Authority, or SEEDA, announced Friday that, at the request of the company, it will not be moving forward with the Vacutech Expansion Project in the High-Tech Business Park in north Sheridan. According to a news release issued by SEEDA, Vacutech leadership sent a letter to the SEEDA Board Chair, requesting that the project not proceed, citing uncertainty over the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The information provided by SEEDA further states that in 2017, SEEDA secured $4.2 million in funding from the Wyoming Business Council’s Business Ready Community Grant and Loan Program for the Vacutech expansion. As a Business Committed Project, SEEDA would have overseen construction of a 40,000 square foot facility that would be leased by Vacutech. Proceeds of the lease would have been used to repay WBC loans, and help to fund future economic development efforts in the community. 

The new facility was intended to help Vacutech expand their operations in Sheridan. Earlier this year, SEEDA was awarded an additional $1.36 million in loan funding from the WBC to help fund the project following necessary redesigns and rebidding. Given Vacutech’s request, SEEDA will not be awarding bids for the project. SEEDA’s other projects remain unaffected by this announcement.