Town negotiates for $90M project – Growponics Nevada LLC

Posted on 29 October 2010.
By GINA B. GOOD

Agriculture could come back to the valley in a big way, if negotiations between the town and Growponics Nevada LLC bear fruit. The project being negotiated is valued at $90 million — larger than the $83.5 million Corrections Corporation of America facility that just opened.

Growponics is looking at sites in Henderson as well. If Pahrump is chosen, the company plans to grow produce such as high quality vegetables, herbs and fruits for year-round distribution to Las Vegas restaurants beginning in the first quarter of 2011. The company reports that it will break ground in February if negotiations are finalized soon.

More than 60 acres of town-owned land have been identified as a possible location to accommodate as many as 10 large greenhouses. Each structure will have a five-acre footprint, netting 4.5 acres of growing space. One greenhouse system can produce more than 4.83 million heads of lettuce per year. That’s 13,243 heads harvested per day.

Among the most important environmental benefits the company touts is a 70 percent to 90 percent reduction in water use, land needs, fossil fuels and labor. Water is recycled and reused within the system. There are no weeds, pests, chemical herbicides or pesticides.

Phase I of the company’s master plan calls for two greenhouses to start production in 2011. One greenhouse will grow berries and the other will grow romaine, Boston and leafy green and red lettuces, as well as herbs.

The development schedule calls for two 4.5 acre greenhouses to be built in 2011. Another greenhouse for herbs and two for vine plants will be added in 2012; three more structures are scheduled for 2014, including nine acres of berries. The final phase will add two greenhouses, for vine plants, totaling 9 acres.

Growponics will employ 30 or more workers during the building development of the hydroponic farm, using local contractors when possible, according to information the company presented to the town in its business plan.

Once the first greenhouse is complete, 15 full-time employees will operate it. Each 4.5 acre greenhouse will employ 15 to 20 additional full-time workers, depending upon the produce being grown. When completed, the project, called Hydroponic City, will employ 150 workers.

Future plans include public access buildings for research and development in cooperation with Nevada universities and Israeli experts in desert farming using hydroponics. An agriculture museum on the site is also a possibility.

Additonally, the company proposes a partnership with the town that could make Pahrump a cultural agro-tourism destination.

According to the company’s website, its aim is to supply the Las Vegas food service and grocery market with produce that is safer, fresher, healthier, more colorful, cleaner and grown locally for immediate delivery.

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