Hemp industry brings jobs to La Junta

Source: lajuntatribunedemocrat.com

On Tuesday, April 21, Whole Hemp Company announced that it is going to expand its operation to La Junta, Colorado, where it will be converting an empty building into a grow center and processing/production facility.

"This building has been empty for 12 years, and having Whole Hemp Company repurpose it is a great step toward revitalizing the community," said Mayor Lynn Horner. Otero County Commissioner Jim Baldwin added, "We are looking forward to having the Whole Hemp Company in Otero County. They will be bringing jobs, using our farm land and potentially bringing other businesses."

After the announcement, Kashif Shan, CEO of Whole Hemp Company, said, "Whole Hemp Company is really excited to be in La Junta and have been overwhelmed by the support that the local community has already given." The Whole Hemp Company plans to hire 30 to 40 people within the first couple of weeks with aspirations to hire 100 to 200 employees total over the next 12 to 24 months. Jobs will primarily be focused in the grow operations.

Shan said with its agricultural background, expanding into the Arkansas Valley "made sense." He said Pueblo was also aggressively pursuing the company, but because of the support from La Junta Mayor Lynn Horner, City Manager Rick Klein and Economic Development Director Ryan Stevens, La Junta was the choice. "They have been super supportive," Shan said, adding that the community's and municipality officials' eagerness to work with the company has "exceeded my expectations by far. There are people going out of their way to make the transition as easy as possible."

Hemp is regulated by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and should not be confused with marijuana. Both plants share the genus Cannabis Sativa but hemp does not have the same intoxicating psychoactive properties as marijuana. In fact, hemp has long been used for paper, rope and oils. The Whole Hemp Company will be extracting the Cannabidiol (CBD) oil from the plants that it will then sell directly to supplement and nutraceutical companies. Currently, these supplement and nutraceutical companies are importing hemp oil from China and Eastern Europe.

"As an economic developer, I am always looking for ways to improve the multiplier (number of times money circulates in the economy) and if we follow the value chain, the hemp industry has the potential to greatly increase the economic outlook for the Arkansas Valley. Not only are La Junta and the surrounding communities receiving direct jobs from Whole Hemp Company, but also farmers are going to gain revenue from outdoor grow operations. Additional companies will follow Whole Hemp Company to extract the oils and refine the byproducts into other raw materials. it is possible we will see additional manufacturers locate here in La Junta to be closer to their raw material sources. And then there are the indirect jobs that will come from all of these extra people having paychecks," explained Ryan Stevens, director of La Junta Economic Development.

Whole Hemp Company is a Colorado Limited Liability Company that is committed to producing CBD oil that is 100 percent U.S. grown and processed and 100 percent caustic solvent free. For more information visit www.WholeHempCompany.com

La Junta Economic Development is committed to expanding the employment base in La Junta, Colorado, by attracting new businesses and retaining and expanding existing businesses. For more information on La Junta Economic Development, visit www.LaJuntaEconomicDevelopment.com.