Sporting goods manufacturer to open plant in Cheyenne

Sporting goods manufacturer to open plant in Cheyenne
 
CHEYENNE (WNE) — Sporting goods manufacturer Wright & McGill, producer of Eagle Claw fishing tackle, announced Tuesday morning it plans to bring a new manufacturing plant to Cheyenne. 
The announcement was made during a news conference led by Gov. Mark Gordon at the state Capitol.
It follows a process that began in March 2020, when local economic development organization Cheyenne LEADS began working with the company. Wright & McGill eventually bought 60 acres of land in the Cheyenne Business Parkway. 
Gordon, who grew up in rural Johnson County, described going into town with his father and looking at fishing tackle as one of his favorite childhood pastimes. 
“Growing up fishing here in Wyoming, some of my first fishing tackle was Eagle Claw,” Gordon said.
The company has long ties to Wyoming, with the founder having fished many times on the North Platte River, according to a LEADS news release. The company’s current owner, Lee McGill, grew up fishing and working those events in Wyoming.
“As a family-owned business, we appreciate the independent, friendly, family-oriented culture we’ve experienced in Cheyenne, for both ourselves, and for future generations of our family and our employees,” said Drew McGill, son of Lee McGill.  
Wright & McGill opened in Denver in 1925, and has operated out of its current facility since 1972. 
“The environment that we currently reside in doesn’t bode well for family business anymore, it doesn’t seem, so we’re happy that Wyoming would (give) us a second home,” Drew McGill said. 
Betsey Hale, CEO of Cheyenne LEADS, said the planned Eagle Claw plant would be “the most advanced manufacturing facility in the world for their product.” 
The company expects to begin construction on the plant in spring 2023.