Wyoming Lands World’s Largest Vertical Farming Research Facility

Governor Mark Gordon on Thursday announced a historic economic development investment, as the State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) approved a grant to support development of the world’s largest and most advanced vertical farming research center in Laramie. According to information from Gordon’s office, the project will support the creation and retention of almost 200 high-paying jobs in the community.

The company, Plenty Unlimited Inc., is dedicated to advancing the emerging technology field of indoor agriculture. The new research center in Laramie expects to utilize an internship-to-employment pipeline to hire local workers, as well as hire recent University of Wyoming graduates. The investment by the Wyoming Business Council supports the new direction of the Council, by adding value to Wyoming’s core industries and activating new economic sectors. The $20 million grant through the Wyoming Business Council will be applied to the construction of the 60,000 square foot facility that will be built on 16 acres at the Cirrus Sky Technology Park in Laramie.

With the SLIB’s approval, the project will be shifting into the design phase, with plans to begin construction later this year and open the facility in early 2025. Plenty’s team and research work will transfer to the new facility from its current Laramie location once it is completed.