Company hopes to create 500 green jobs
Photo
Clover grown on recycled newspaper by RecyGrow, a new company that's eying Janesville.
JANESVILLE — President Barack Obama and Gov. Jim Doyle have said they want green jobs, and they want them now.
A young Wisconsin company wants to answer the call and create hundreds of sustainable green jobs in Janesville.
In fact, the partners in RecyGrow have a handshake agreement to lease a building in Janesville that could employ up to 500 people in its first year.
"We're ready to get to work," said Dave Farb, the start-up company's strategic officer. "The potential for this company and technology is huge."
RecyGrow would use green technologies to grow plant life from processed recycled materials. In Janesville, it would grow sod and other groundcover plants indoors on racks under grow lights.
The company's four partners have met with Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, and state officials in an effort to convince the state to buy the company's products for road, restoration and reclamation projects. Sheridan said the state would work with the company to see if it can use the products.
"We want to create a sizeable company, and to do that we need to secure government contracts," said Darren Kennedy, the company's marketing officer. "Without the contracts, this would be a company that creates 10 jobs. So what?
"We want to hit the homerun and create sustainable green jobs for hundreds of people."
RecyGrow would set up its building to grow layers of grass or other plants every 12 inches, meaning the company could grow 20 layers in a building with a 20-foot ceiling.
Growing indoors offers several advantages, they said:
-- The climate is controllable, and weeds and pests are eliminated.
-- The product can be harvested at any time.
-- By using shallow trays with recycled paper as the growing medium, the company can cut weight and prevent the shock of cutting the product out of soil. The paper-based growing medium also acts as a natural filter to improve ground water.
-- By not cutting root systems, the product extends roots into the soil more quickly, improving survivability.
"This product binds in four to six hours," said Keith Clements, the company's horticulturist. "With cut roots, regular sod can take up to 14 days."
-- With a lighter weight and by using refrigeration trucks, the company can ship sod longer distances. Clements said a square yard of his material weights about 12 pounds. A yard of conventional sod that can weigh more than 100 pounds.
The partners estimate sod is a $1 billion business in the United States, but it's fragmented among regional sod farms shipping within a 200-mile radius. RecyGrow's lighter product can be shipped thousands of miles at lower costs, they said.
Growing grass would be only a sliver of RecyGrow's business. The company could grow any seed a customer wants and produce a clean product for roadway, watershed and prairie restorations. With its light weight, the product would lend itself to green roofs.
"It's really a technology that fits the environment," Farb said.
It's also a technology that's right for a nation that's launching infrastructure projects based on a federal stimulus program, he said.
And it's right for Rock County, which leads the state in unemployment, the partners said.
"The product is revolutionary," said Sheridan, who has a chunk of the company's grass growing in his office. "I've talked with people who used to lay sod, and they said they would love this. Plus, it would create a lot of great jobs in the Janesville area."
Farb grew up on a farm near Clinton, and Kennedy once worked at the Rock County Sheriff's Office. Both have moved to the Lake Tomahawk area, where Kennedy met Clements when both were in the landscaping business.
"One of the reasons we're attracted to Janesville is that we know that there are quality people here that have been laid off at all levels," Farb said. "It fits the political time perfectly … green product, green jobs, Rock County."
Because it's a start-up company with major growth plans, RecyGrow would offer jobs that run the gamut.
"The stimulus package certainly makes this the right time to start this company, but the applications for our product don't depend on the stimulus," Farb said. "It is very sustainable."
In the meantime, the partners await direction from state officials, who, they said, have reacted positively to the company, its product and its likely location.
Farb said the company would like to get a commitment for state contracts this year.
Apr 16, 2009 at 9:57 p.m.
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fool-on-the-hill:
Yes, I'm all for keeping petro $$'s in this country. Unfortunately, much of the "green" energy is dealing with electrical power plants to power your home, which is a good thing if it can be done cost effectively. There is no real alternative to gasoline to power vehicles. Sure you have some electrics, and hybrids, but that accounts for hardly anything in the over all picture. Our economy is dependent BIG TIME on gasoline. Hopefully some day there will be a better alternative; like hydrogen. Sure would be nice to just fill your tank up with water! Until then we will rely HEAVILY on oil, and it's my strong belief that if we do that we should at least tap our own resources to develop, and keep oil jobs and wealth, in our own country. Near 70% of our oil is now imported! Contrary to what many believe, much of that wealth is NOT going to the middle east; as our two biggest foreign suppliers of oil are Canada and Mexico. Saudi Arabia is a close #3. That 70% figure has risen every year. It use to be we only imported 20-30% of our oil just a few decades ago.
Apr 16, 2009 at 5:04 a.m.
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Not to disagree with your job creation premise, kiowamohican, but the strengthening of alternative sources of energy, along with more efficient use of energy, would help reduce the transfer of roughly $1 trillion per year in wealth to oil producing nations, which capital could then be available for investment here at home.
To suggest the free market "would have" done something on its own assumes our government hadn't already been picking winners and losers over the past hundred or so years. I doubt the oil industry would be nearly as dominant today if we had ever enjoyed a truly free market.
Apr 16, 2009 at 3:08 a.m.
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Wow all these comments and nobody even noticed, its all clovers in the picture! Don't we buy weed and feed to try to avoid this every spring? Why would I want to lay down A lot of weeds instead of sod? I guess I'll do it the old fasioned way and plant seed and water it and watch it grow for less than half the price. No warehouse, no lamps, no racks, and NO TAX DOLLARS!
Apr 15, 2009 at 10:11 p.m.
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My only point with the study is that going green is not going to create a NET GAIN in jobs. Obama and the greens are using this alternative energy as a way of promoting job growth. When the reality is it will end up in a NET LOSS in jobs. That is not to say that alternative energy is a bad thing. If you believe in global warming, it's obviously a good thing by going green. Just don't try fooling us by saying it will create jobs (as in a net gain in jobs). And don't make this ridiculous argument that it's capitalistic by reducing waste and redundancy. If that were the case the technology would have taken hold with OUT any government substitutes. If it's so efficient then entrepreneurs will be be developing it with private capital to make profit on the innovation, and won't need any government assistance.
Apr 15, 2009 at 7:57 p.m.
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First off, they "hope" to create jobs. They don't have anything yet. I hope to "win" the lottery, but I don't figure it in when I plan my life. Will the Gazette do a story on my "hopes"? How is this news worthy?
Apr 15, 2009 at 7:15 p.m.
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There are only two things I see about this business that are green...the color of the grass...and the color of the government handout they are seeking.
Apr 15, 2009 at 11:46 a.m.
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Janesvillian:
"Full employment" is commonly defined as 4.5-5.5% national unrmployment. But this number varies based on the economist between 2-7% unemployment. Even these numnbers are troubling in the aggregate. When you disect these numbers one can see why blue collar cities like Janesville are much more negatively impacted by slow downs in the economy.
For example:
Those without a highschool diploma-today that rate is above 13%
With a highschool diploma-national unemployment is about 10%
With college degree- about 4%
With a graduate degree less than 3%
Less than 20% of the adults in Janesville have a college degree. While this number on balance is meaningless, in the grand scheme, companies such as Reycgrow do not have to offer tremendous salary packages and lavish benefits to employees because the skill sets of the employement pool are lower than-Madison WI for example. As a result the market clearing salaries for entry level employees are driven lower, rather than higher-especially for a firm like Recygrow, who arguably will not require its labor to have extensive college education. Also, the benefits, such as health insurance ofthen are not part of the employment package because leaders at Recygrow realize that their labor pool might leave to go to another firm for $1 more dollar per hour and in times where unemployment levels are above 13% as they are in Janesville, Recygrow does not need to offer employer paid Health insurance to attract labor-in the future maybe they will.
As for subsidies: consumers will be foreced to pay more. A govt subsidy has a direct, not indirect, impact on supply of that product and cost. Look at ethanol. Food prices have skyrocked, globally. Don't be seduced by the deceptive promise of jobs created in this new energy economy if the new, less efficient energy jobs replace old, more efficient ones.
http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/wi/jane...
Apr 15, 2009 at 11:43 a.m.
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I bet a lot of gm workers would take a job since they dont have one! No more job banks or free handouts..Face reality or have another smoke and a beer....Oh that is reality.
Apr 15, 2009 at 11:41 a.m.
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green = good?
read this:
Green Stimulus Money Costs More Jobs Than It Creates, Study Shows
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/ar...
the entire green movement needs to be examined before we charge into it full bore.
algore and his movement have been discredited by thousands of scientists worldwide (despite his throngs' all insisting anyone who doubts is a kook).
drill here - drill now -- and continue to move towards alternative fuels.
on a related note, i love all the TV shows telling us to "go green."
if you have ever been on the set of anything from local news to a tv production, to a movie set, you'll see big huge energy sucking lights and big huge energy sucking cameras. for tv and movies add big huge energy sucking kitchens to feed the privileged, personal jets, limos and more.
but joe sixpack needs to curtail use and cut back.
green = hypocrisy?
Apr 15, 2009 at 11:40 a.m.
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I don't see anywhere in the article that it states jobs are $10 an hour, regardless, it isn't only GM workers that need jobs. And since non GM employees don't get all the extended pay and unemployment, I'm guessing they will be more than happy to take those jobs!
Apr 15, 2009 at 10:46 a.m.
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well how many gm employees do u think are going to work for 10 bucks and hour? and your rite obama and doyle are a very scary team.
Apr 15, 2009 at 10:14 a.m.
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Of course, that study is complete reactionary piffle. If a private company innovates, it also destroys jobs. When GM started building buses they destroyed jobs in the trolley industry. When nuclear power was invented it destroyed jobs in the coal industry. When airplanes were invented they destroyed jobs in the passenger rail industry. If you subsidize greater energy efficiency of course you will eliminate unnecessary jobs because the energy industry won't have to mine as many non-renewables and won't have to build as many power plants and all the people to maintain them. But the subsidy is not for full employment. The subsidy is to promote the lower cost, more sustainable economy that results. In capitalist terms, this is elimination of waste and redundancy. And of course we are pursuing sustainable energy for the simple reason that non-renewables are running out and they cause massive political (including war in the Middle East) and environmental (including human health) detriments. But counting the costs of that policy direction is, apparently, not worth considering.
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I've never heard a conservative promote full employment before, so this seems pretty amusing hypocrisy.
Apr 15, 2009 at 9:33 a.m.
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Stop making sense! You are not supposed to be thinking. All you need to do is feel. I feel happy, I feel sad, I feel angry. All of those facts and thoughts in your head are confusing your feelings. If it is green, it is good. GREEN = GOOD. That is all you need to know.
Apr 15, 2009 at 3:19 a.m.
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OK, so I'm not as lazy as I claim.
Here's one of the links.
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http://www.coloradoconnection.com/news/n...
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Basically just details how more jobs are destroyed then created by going green. But like I said, who needs jobs now anyway? The government is there to take care of everyone. That is until they go bankrupt!
Apr 15, 2009 at 3:06 a.m.
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Funny; but I was just reading an article in in the financial times today that was written by an economist in Spain. Spain, of course, was the model that Obama kept siting on how great the green boom has been for. The numbers show quite a different story. One can google it if interested. I'm just to lazy to put up the link. Ah well, the green boom all sounds great in sound bytes. Quite a different story when you actually look into the numbers.
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For all the so called "jobs" this ridiculous stimulus is suppose to create, as we waste a near trillion $$$'s in borrowed $$$$, it could be very much argued that you'd just have been better off simply cutting people checks. The $900 billion we borrowed comes out to something like $2600 per every citizen (little less as we'd no doubt give it to illegal citizens as well).
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Hell why do you need a job anyway? All the recent campaign rallies I heard things like: "I'm going to give you health care, child care, education, housing assistance, and jobs". In which someone promptly shouted from the audience. Why do we need the jobs??
Apr 15, 2009 at 1:50 a.m.
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But what about CHINCHILLA farming? Either way, I'm all for it IF they get a license to serve beer!
My fear is that this will go like the Mc-WHATEVER brewing company in Beloit. Get cheap loans from local government with no collateral and try to get the state to buy your product before you prove its viability, sustainability, or environmental footprint!
I'm all for it guys -- INVEST YOUR OWN MONEY IF IT'S SUCH A GREAT IDEA, PROVE PROFITABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY, AND GROW YOUR BUSINESS, ALONG WITH YOUR GRASS!
Actually, the only way this will really go is if they legalize "grass", which would be one big step in the right direction (as well as an assurance of big profitability in this proposed industry!)
Apr 15, 2009 at 1:18 a.m.
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Perhaps their product would work with ABC Supply's Green Grid roofing system http://www.greengridroofs.com/ or fill a niche market for buildings with roofs that can't support the weight of a sod-based covering but could support this lighter coating.
Apr 14, 2009 at 6:16 p.m.
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Well at this point any new jobs in Janesville are good. However, it would be nice if this company were not relying on government contracts for reasonable employment levels. We could find ourselves in another similar situation in four years should administrations change or the government have to make cuts. We need LONG term solutions that don't rely on uncle sam. That said, if the government contracts can get the ball rolling and then the company is able to find other avenues of revenue, this could pan out. It might also give the area some publicity and then all the hippies will come running with new "green" companies.
Apr 14, 2009 at 5 p.m.
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kcole, you crack me up!
Apr 14, 2009 at 4:58 p.m.
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No-bid contracts aren't somehow O.K. just because they were done under other administrations. With Chaney as VP, of course Bush wouldn't change the good 'ol boy way of doing things. Wake up.
Apr 14, 2009 at 3:49 p.m.
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Zoom:
HAL has a history of no bid contracts dating back to Johnson and the procurement rules that enabled HAL in Iraq were written while Clinton was in office. Now how on earth did Dick Cheney do that under Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton before GW Bush?
Your blind adherence to simplistic conspiracy theories cloud your judgment. Wake up.
Apr 14, 2009 at 2:51 p.m.
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I say this is either a teaser or great start to helping Janesville get on the path to recovery. I hope this works as planned. I am sure there would be jobs spun off this company in the process
Apr 14, 2009 at 2:27 p.m.
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Lay a truckload of sod the way they grow it now .........you hands, arms, your whole body smells of CHEMICALS
Apr 14, 2009 at 1:38 p.m.
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come on people, we are taking about 500 jobs. i m sure everyone of us know somebody who could use a job. Think positive.
Apr 14, 2009 at 1:31 p.m.
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Janesville----Just say NO!
Guess that is our city motto now!
Apr 14, 2009 at 1:05 p.m.
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I am not a "green" person at all, but I can see some real potential in this...Even with everything factored in, this seems a far better way to grow sod than the way they do it now..Anyone that doesn't think so needs to go work on a sod farm and see what goes on....its ridiculous...
Apr 14, 2009 at 12:55 p.m.
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Sure would bet that these jobs will be filled with undesirables from south of the boarder and at that type of pay
Apr 14, 2009 at 12:51 p.m.
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This sounds like the worm farms of the early 70's. I hope it's the real deal. It just seems off-the-wall at first blush.
Apr 14, 2009 at 12:35 p.m.
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If billions of dollars in no-bid contracts for Halliburton are good enough for Bush, then a few green jobs should be good enough for Obama.
Apr 14, 2009 at 12:32 p.m.
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There are a lot of companies that need government contracts. Ever heard of the defense industry? The government builds and maintains a lot of roads, where this sod (and other groungcover plants, per the article)would be laid. It's probably much cheaper for the government than trying to water seeds along a busy road or highway every day until it grows.
Apr 14, 2009 at 12:25 p.m.
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tcb,
you are 100% correct.
however, they won't need vc -- they have the obama administration to ensure success with our tax dollars. a good business plan will not matter.
even a crappy product (not saying this is) but even a crappy product, if it is green enough, will be fast-tracked by our tax dollars.
Apr 14, 2009 at 12:19 p.m.
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The business plan is as follows:
Secure a gov't contract and hire up to 500 people
or compete in the sod market and hire 10 people?
Hmmm. Am I missing something here?
I will ask the board this: If you were a venture capitalist who provided angel funding-would you invest your hard earned capital in a business that pegged its success on gov't contracts? Probably not.
Apr 14, 2009 at 12:17 p.m.
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hmmmm... there are just as many stories regarding the "myth of green jobs" as there are those stating green jobs are the saviour of this economic downturn.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12288608...
http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/18/the-...
http://www.ien.com/ienblog.aspx?id=14902...
you can create jobs anywhere doing anything if you pour enough government money at them.
as for the creation of ten jobs -- i think it's wonderful.
my beef, as i clearly stated, is this company's officials openly state they NEED government contracts to make this a "sustainable" company.
Apr 14, 2009 at 12:07 p.m.
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Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia
Apr 14, 2009 at 12:06 p.m.
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Forgot this link:
http://www.cows.org/
COWS - Center on Wisconsin Strategy - University of Wisconsin- Madison
Apr 14, 2009 at 11:59 a.m.
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For those who would like to read this: Report: Green Jobs: A Pathway To A Strong Middle Class.
Located at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documen...
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Meeting in February: Middle Class Task Force, with a focus on a green jobs as a pathway to a strong middle class
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/02/27/...
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Of course we all know that "Green" doesn't mean that we only grow green plants, but does require the vision of individuals who can help to create a "green, sustainable existence" (with green collar jobs). Perhaps this RecyGrow will fit into this group. Here are other "green visionaries" who are willing to take chances:
MacArthur Grant: Will Allen. http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQK...
Milwaukee: http://www.growingpower.org/
Van Jones' website: www.greenforall.org/
What are green collar jobs: http://www.greenforall.org/green-collar-...
Chicago's Green Collar Partnerships: http://www.greencollarchicago.org/index....
Green collar job videos: http://video.yahoo.com/search/?p=green+c...
Apr 14, 2009 at 11:51 a.m.
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Excellent!!! Let's keep ideas like this coming into our city. Balance point...what building are you thinking of? We do have a lot to choose from right now!
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whoanellie: What was the point of that post? I must of missed it...
Apr 14, 2009 at 11:43 a.m.
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Yes! Eco-jobs for Rock County. We have to start somewhere, and this seems like a good place to begin...:)
Apr 14, 2009 at 11:34 a.m.
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Just keep your eyes on this - let's be sure they use an existing building.
Apr 14, 2009 at 11:25 a.m.
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"The savings in fossil fuels for harvesting and transportation are commendable" -- that means gas for trucks, Charlie Brown.
Apr 14, 2009 at 11:21 a.m.
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Well, it is interesting and innovative. It's green in only one sense -- the recycled materials. I agree that shipping and refrigeration and grow lights will all involve some carbon costs but I'd have to see a comparison with a sod farm to really judge whether it's significantly enough better or insignificantly enough worse. Whatever jobs and companies we do attract to Janesville (GM site or no) are going to have energy costs associated, so that's not by itself a reason to object.
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I'm sure these will not be GM pay levels. But hardly any (unskilled labor) jobs are.
Apr 14, 2009 at 11:18 a.m.
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While the idea of the new jobs is great, my question is: What would it do for the sod farms? Wouldn't it put them out of business? That would then put those workers out of a job.
Apr 14, 2009 at 11:12 a.m.
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i cant believe theres a story about bringin up to 500 jobs to rock county and theres negative comments on this page. like my ex wife...never good enough:) i think it would be awesome if rock county re invented themselves and led the way for the state in 'green' companies.
Apr 14, 2009 at 11:08 a.m.
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Why do they need government contracts? Does this mean that there really isn't a demand for this kind of business? If they do get government contracts, how many jobs will be lost to companies that already have those government contracts?
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:51 a.m.
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If this employed 10 people, it would still be good..First, I thought this was hoky, but now I see where its better than growing sod the way they do now...I worked on a sod farm and the amount of chemicals they used was UNBELIEVABLE...Spraying, spraying, spraying ALL the time..
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:40 a.m.
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I wonder if the UAW will be able to get in on this?
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:35 a.m.
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Wow, bring on the jobs. Its so nice to finaly hear some good news.
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:26 a.m.
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this certainly fits the obama plan.
in order for this project to work, according to Darren Kennedy, THIS company's marketing director, they need GOVERNMENT contracts.
In order to be sustainable, they need government support. And without it, they produce 10 jobs.
Nice.
MIA in this story? What is the hourly wage?
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:20 a.m.
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Doyle will most likely tax it out anyway!
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:18 a.m.
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Good grief is right, this is a fuel dump, it will us as much energy to run this thing as the GM plant used. Starting a new lawn is only energy efficient if you plant seed directly. Thus no trucking no grow lights no heating and cooling just a little water.
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:07 a.m.
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garyprimer: Good grief! Probably no more then what is wasted everyday in the homes. It creates EMPLOYMENT. Ask youself, how much does it cost to move a 100lb roll of grass compared to a 12lb roll? There's savings there right off the bat especially in gas for the trucks since more can be hauled. There has to be give and take. See it as a positive instead of jumping on the negative so fast.
Apr 14, 2009 at 9:50 a.m.
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There's a scary pair, Obama and Doyle!!
Apr 14, 2009 at 9:40 a.m.
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The sod is green, but I am not convinced that this is a green company. The savings in fossil fuels for harvesting and transportation are commendable, but how much natural gas and electricity is used to grow plants indoors?
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