Sheridan, Wyoming Doubles Manufacturing Jobs Through Strategic Investments

Sheridan’s manufacturing employment has doubled since 2018 through strategic investments and community building.

Sheridan, Wyoming, has transformed its economic landscape by establishing a manufacturing hub that supports existing businesses and attracts new ones. This structural shift rests on targeted workforce training and infrastructure development, creating a sustainable industrial ecosystem.

Central to this success is Sheridan’s investment in training programs at Sheridan College, particularly CNC and welding, alongside the creation of the Sheridan High-Tech Business Park. Companies like Vacutech, Weatherby, Kennon, EMIT, and Wendtland Machine Works have either expanded or relocated here, benefiting from local customer bases and shared supply chains. Kennon, for example, employs 60 workers and secured a $2.4 million contract for F-35 inlet covers. Despite early setbacks such as losing a plastics manufacturer to Casper, Sheridan focused on workforce readiness to attract manufacturers. Wendtland opened his machine shop in 2024, noting that 80 percent of his work comes from local clients. Local officials and business leaders credit these coordinated efforts for doubling manufacturing jobs in less than a decade.

Wendtland plans to reinvest profits to expand equipment and hire more staff, while Kennon considers adding shifts to grow further.

How Sheridan Built A Manufacturing Hub That Helps New Businesses Take Root
By @daily_cowboy, Cowboy State Daily