How Sheridan Built A Manufacturing Hub That Helps New Businesses Take Root | Cowboy State Daily

Taylor Wendtland’s machine shop in Sheridan, Wyoming, is built on a local manufacturing push that’s helped new businesses get started and keep workers nearby. Wendtland, who trained at Sheridan College and worked previously for Weatherby, opened his own shop in 2024 and now estimates about 80% of his manufacturing work comes from local customers. His clients include manufacturers in Sheridan such as Bill Britz’s animal-research equipment business and Tom Balding’s bits-and-spurs operation. Sheridan’s broader shift began after a plastics proposal fell through when a company chose Casper—revealing the city needed computer-controlled manufacturing skills. Since then, manufacturing employment has doubled since 2018.