JEROME, Idaho – Hempitecture Inc., a Sun Valley, Idaho-based company that specializes in sustainable building materials, is expanding its operations and bringing a state-of-the-art nonwoven manufacturing facility to south-central Idaho.
Earlier this year, Hempitecture made their expansion announcement, and have since finalized a Jerome location to be the home of their 21,632-square-foot facility. It will be located at the Northbridge Junction industrial park directly off I-84 and U.S. 93 in Jerome County, Idaho. Hempitecture will have a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 13.
“Hempitecture brings a unique value to Jerome County and the Magic Valley, not only jobs for the company but new opportunities for our farmers to diversify their rotational crops using less water — in a desert I might add — and a product to our booming housing and commercial construction projects throughout the state and the Magic Valley. Welcome aboard, Hempitecture,” said Jerome County Commissioner Charlie Howell.
The proposed facility will manufacture HempWool, a sustainable, high-performing natural fiber thermal insulation for residential and commercial construction projects. The plant-based insulation product is non-toxic and carbon negative, helping build healthier and more sustainable homes. Additionally, the facility will enable toll manufacture capabilities of nonwoven sustainable packaging insulation for the cold-freight shipping industry.
“We’re thrilled to be locating our nonwoven manufacturing facility in Jerome, Idaho,” said Hempitecture Founder & CEO Matthew Mead. “Jerome is ideally situated in southern Idaho between large acreage hemp cultivation in the Rocky Mountain West and major U.S. construction markets. We're thankful for the support of the community in making this project possible, and we look forward to being an asset to the region and insulation industry for many years to come.”
Matthew Mead and Tommy Gibbons, co-founders of Hempitecture, were named on the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 list. In May of 2021, Gibbons was selected to represent Hempitecture at a Department of Energy-sponsored research fellowship program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Knoxville, Tennessee. In June of 2021, Hempitecture and its research partners at the University of Idaho’s College of Renewable Resources were awarded a $206,000 research grant from the Idaho Department of Commerce’s IGEM program.
“Hempitecture’s expansion brings high paying jobs, opportunity, and innovation to Jerome,” Department of Commerce Director Tom Kealey said. “This isn’t just a win for Jerome, but also for the state. This project is a testament to the innovation we strive for in Idaho.”
Idaho Governor Brad Little signed a bill in April legalizing the production and transportation of industrial hemp in the state of Idaho.
“We are so excited to welcome Hempitecture to Southern Idaho and Jerome County,” said Southern Idaho Economic Development Executive Director Connie Stopher, CEcD. “The combination of sustainability, agricultural technology, and innovation makes this a wonderful addition to the Magic Valley and the state of Idaho.”
At the beginning of June, Hempitecture announced an equity fundraising campaign through Wefunder designed to support the build-out of this facility. By June 29, they surpassed their goal of $2.5 million.
