News

This week, we've seen major announcements regarding the development of manufacturing operations across the West. Industries of all kinds, from packaging and building materials to energy technologies and semiconductors, are choosing western states to establish new facilities, expand production, and access a skilled workforce. 

In particular, there were several announcements about manufacturing facilities for the energy industry.  

In Nevada, Governor Joe Lombardo joined Ampersand to celebrate the opening of their new advanced manufacturing facility in Reno, which will develop much-needed medium voltage transformers designed to efficiently connect large power consumers to the electrical grid.  

“Nevada is building an economy where innovative companies can invest, manufacture, and create high-paying jobs right here in our state,” said Governor Lombardo. “Amperesand’s decision to grow in Nevada means more than 1,200 planned jobs, tens of millions of dollars in investment, and critical grid technology being built here instead of overseas.” 

To the north, Premier Technology completed a new manufacturing facility in Blackfoot, Idaho, which features a specialized milling machine capable of large-scale metal fabrication for the nuclear industry – the first of its kind in the region.  

Further west, Peak Energy secured $108 million in new financing led by GM Ventures to expand domestic manufacturing of its sodium-ion energy storage systems and meet more than $1 billion in existing customer orders. The company’s 4-gigawatt-hour manufacturing facility in Sacramento is expected to begin production in early 2027, with the new funding also supporting expansion into the data center market. 

Several facilities designed for bolstering the manufacturing workforce were also announced.  

The U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Empower to Grow (E2G) program granted Chippewa Sustainable Solutions Inc. $5 million to run a manufacturing training and technical assistance program in Belcourt, North Dakota. The program is designed to support small manufacturers in industries including metal fabrication, aerospace and defense, construction, energy, robotics and industrial machinery. 

SBA also granted $4.5 million to Navajo Technical University in New Mexico, which will help workers gain new skills, expand a mentorship program with Ridgeline Manufacturing and Engineering, Inc., and develop tribal small businesses and manufacturing jobs on the Navajo Nation and in nearby tribal communities. 

Boise, Idaho, has opened two new semiconductor training facilities in recent months to help meet growing demand for skilled workers in the industry. ABM’s new technical training center can accommodate approximately 500 participants annually. It opened September 22, following the August 24 opening of Micron’s 60,000-square-foot training center, which provides hands-on instruction and career pathways in advanced semiconductor manufacturing. 

In other manufacturing news, Molins, a global leader in construction materials, opened its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Elk City, Oklahoma, to produce urban furniture and landscape products under its Escofet brand. The facility will initially manufacture eight products for U.S. and Canadian markets, helping shorten delivery times and expand the company’s North American presence.  

U.S. Dairy Processing announced plans to invest more than  $15 billion in over 85 manufacturing projects across 23 states, including Arizona, California, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Washington. Food manufacturing employs more people than any other manufacturing sector in the country, and these investments are projected to add over 85,000 new jobs. 

Alphla, an Austrian plastic packaging and recycling manufacturer, has acquired a new production facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The facility will serve customers across various industries, including food and beverage, health and beauty, and home care.  

Studying Time Spent in Nature: The Nature and Health Alliance, in partnership with REI, published a first-of-its-kind American Nature and Health Survey to address the lack of a consistent, nationwide understanding of how Americans experience nature and whether they have opportunities to benefit from it. According to the report, “nearly half (45%) of Americans spend fewer than two hours in nature each week with almost 1 in three spending time outside only once per week (or less).”  

Learn more about the survey in the panel discussion on mental health and the outdoors that took place at WGA's Health Beyond Healthcare workshop in Jackson, Wyoming.   

Next-generation nuclear in Wyoming: Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Idaho Governor Brad Little, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon joined Bill Gates for a visit to TerraPower's new Natrium plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming. This next-generation nuclear power plant is projected to generate enough power for 500,000 homes.  

“It's safe, it's clean, it’s going to be less expensive as we build more of these. That’s good for consumers, ratepayers, and the citizens of Utah," said Governor Cox. 

 
Noteworthy National Park News: There's been a few major announcements related to national parks this week.  

President Trump announced Chiricahua National Monument, in Arizona, will become the nation's newest National Park. “Chiricahua’s towering rock spires, rich Apache heritage, and remarkable biodiversity make it one of America’s most extraordinary landscapes,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. 

Two major developments in Yellowstone National Park were also announced this week.  

Yellowstone received the largest single private gift ever given in the history of the National Park Service. Tallgrass, an AI software company, established a $105 million conservation and stewardship fund to support conservation efforts, upgrade infrastructure, and expand visit opportunities for Wyoming students and residents.  

“It is time we reacquaint ourselves with the value of the outdoors. In education today, we find it is essential for kids to get outdoors,” Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon said. “Then kids begin to understand the beauty of the wonderful world we live in, and what better place than Wyoming? What better place than Yellowstone?” 

Additionally, Governor Gordon announced the start of a process to transfer Wyoming’s portion of Yellowstone's water management to the state’s Department of Environmental Quality. The change will formally recognize Wyoming’s existing role in managing water quality in the park and is intended to improve regulatory certainty and responsiveness while protecting water resources. 

Wildfire Readiness in South Dakota: South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden celebrated the opening of a new Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) base in Wall, South Dakota, to strengthen wildfire response and help protect communities and forested areas.  

“I’ve been a volunteer fireman my whole life, so I know what it feels like to run into a fire,” said Governor Rhoden. “My administration continues to fight to ensure firefighters have the resources they need to protect our communities.”  

Invasive Crabs in Washington: More than 2 million invasive European green crabs were captured in Washington state between July 2025 and June 2026, more than doubling the previous year's total. These voracious predators pose an ongoing threat to local ecosystems by consuming juvenile Dungeness crabs, young salmon, and valuable shellfish. 

Genius Grant Recipient in New Mexico: Retired primary care physician Chip Thomas was awarded a 2026 MacArthur "genius" grant for his impactful, large-scale public art installations across the Navajo Nation. His monumental black-and-white photomurals transform rural, overlooked structures like abandoned buildings and roadside stands into reflections of daily community life.