Local business to expand
A local start-up that now does business all over the world could apply for a $3 million grant from the Wyoming Business Council’s Business Ready Community program.
Bright Agrotech, a manufacturer of indoor farming equipment which specializes in hydroponics, got its start in the UW Technology and Business Incubator system. Now that the business has graduated from the incubator, founder Nate Storey said he wants to expand.
“As a bootstrap business trying to grow as fast as we’re growing, we’re making more money every month, but we’re spending more money every month,” he said. “This becomes a very difficult balance for us to navigate.”
Agrotech, which employs 15 workers, could employ between 75 and 100 local workers if the Wyoming Business Council awarded Storey’s business the grant.
Agrotech would spend the grant on constructing a new headquarters, thereby freeing up its own funds to hire the new employees.
Councilor Joe Shumway said he supported the business and its goals.
“This is a great success and I’m excited about the opportunity for the city to continue to partnership with this,” he said. “It’s exciting for us to be fostering something like this is in the city of Laramie.”
School zones too fast
The City Council heard the results of a study that investigated speed limits throughout the city during their work session this week.
The study recommended keeping most speed limits as they are, with a few exceptions, city engineer Eric Jaap said.
“It was found however that we are out of compliance when it came to state statutes around school zones,” he said.
Bringing those areas into compliance would mean extending the 20mph zones to completely surround each school.
The changes could cost an estimated $103,000.
