SBIR-STTR Award

The inability of wool producers to clean their wool requires that value is added outside of the state.Development of an infrastructure to add value to wool in state could increase economic growth and development. A thorough feasibility study will illustrate whether or not and under what conditions a wool scouring facility would be economically beneficial to Wyoming's rural communities. OBJECTIVES: 1.Development of a financial feasibility analysis and resource requirements for facility establishment. 2. Produce a market feasibility analysis with regional national and international users of cleaned wool. 3. Produce a socioeconomic impact assessment of a facility on rural community. 4. Describe regulatory requirements and produce an environmental impact assessment. APPROACH: Both direct and indirect costs and benefits will be estimated for acquiring, building and operating a moderate sized wool scouring facility. A variety of techniques ranging from simple extrapolation to regional input/output modeling will be used by the University of Wyoming team. To determine market feasibility, a survey of producers, and end user's will be conducted. With results an estimate of demand for services and potential supply will be established.The socioeconomic impact assessment will focus on transportation, economic, employment, infrastructure, community acceptance. Finally, a list of typical permits and approvals required will be obtained through EPA, DEQ and OSHA

Although the state of Wyoming ranks second in the nation in wool production, a commercial scouring facility does not exist in this region. Raw wool, called greasy, is shipped out of the region, and more often out of the country for further processing. Rarely does this Wyoming product ever return to its state of origin. Value is added outside of the state. During Phase II, we will operate a localized experimental facility, using existing technology proving the concept that locally adding value to wool will increase producer wool income. Through a local processing facility, ranchers will be able to implement management practices in wool preparation which will improve their profitability and the efficiency of the marketing system. Producers will also see the benefit of retaining ownership of their premium wool fleece further into the supply chain and thus increasing their income potential.