Jerome, Idaho’s Hempitecture has been awarded a bunch of bucks to build a hemp processing facility in Tennessee.
In late October, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced USD $428 million in grants for 14 projects to accelerate domestic clean energy manufacturing in 15 US coal communities; part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda.
Among those projects was $8.42 million for Hempitecture Inc to create an industrial hemp fiber processing and manufacturing facility in northeast Tennessee that will produce high performing products with low carbon intensity for the building materials, packaging, and automotive industry.
When completed, the facility will create 25 full time jobs, with wages 15% above the prevailing hourly rate.
“This investment is a powerful vote of confidence in the vast potential of bio-based, sustainable materials to reshape industries as diverse as building, automotive, cold chain, and consumer goods,” says the company.
The firm’s current products are HempWool (a low density batt), hempcrete and FiberPad (carpet underlay). Upcoming products noted on the company’s website are PlantPanel (interior rigid board), PlantPanel X (exterior rigid board) and HempWool+. Other products in the pipeline include HempWool Acoustic; a medium density batt, and FiberFill; which is blow-in insulation.
Among the company’s achievements since it was founded in 2013 was being the first in the US to bring sustainable hemp insulation to market. And in 2020, hempcrete’s fire resistance was officially recognised in the USA after testing of a Hempitecture product.
As for HempWool, it’s becoming increasingly popular. The firm’s HempWool sales grew 50% year-over-year in 2023 and are up 200% YoY 2024 to date it says.
In addition to the $8.42 million from the DOE, Hempitecture is also seeking to raise $5m through equity crowdfunding for other activities. This funding will be paired with $1.1m from the New York State Energy & Research Development Authority awarded in June to develop and manufacture a bio-based insulation product using regionally grown industrial hemp. At the time of writing, the crowdfunder had $1,027,315 in commitments.
The company was previously a recipient of a $500k GrowNY investment award.
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