PADD Visits Incubators in WY and CO

PADD visited with executives and leaders of successful incubators in Wyoming and Colorado this past Thursday as part of their effort in developing a business plan for the region's Business Development Center.

PADD staff members Jerrod Haberman and Chuck Karpf met with Jonathan Benson and Christine Langley at the Wyoming Technology Business Center on July 16. After a discussion of the center’s formation, mission and success in incubating technology companies in Laramie and the current expansion into other Wyoming communities, Jerrod and Chuck were given a tour of the recently completed facility, which consists of approximately 20,000 square feet of rental business incubator space, office space and a 2,000 square foot data center which is utilized by several Wyoming companies both inside and outside the incubator.

A meeting was held on the afternoon of the 16th with Hill Grimmett, founder and coordinator of the Northern Colorado Food Incubator, a virtual food and kitchen incubator located in Ft. Collins, Co. Scott Hapner of the Ft. Collins Chamber of Commerce, Nikol Schwab of The Little Italian Kitchen and Amy and Gary Lasley of Rocky Mountain Salsa also joined the discussion of shared kitchens, food and kitchen incubators and the general direction of the ‘home grown and produced’ food business in the front range region.

After the meeting Jerrod and Chuck had a tour of the Rocky Mountain Salsa shared kitchen and further discussions with Amy and Gary. By the way, Rocky Mountain Salsa is available at Main Street Market in Torrington!