US (KY): Vertical farming company chosen as lead architect on new indoor farm

Land Betterment Corporation, an environmental solutions company, announced the engagement of urban-gro as the lead architect, engineer, and systems integrator on the build-out of its Busy Vertical Farm located in Perry County, Kentucky. 

The company has been renovating the former Willard Elementary School, which it purchased in April, 2021 after the school was closed in 2018 and consolidated into the nearby West Perry Elementary School.  Land Betterment’s Betterment Harvest division is in the final stages of preparing the building and its 3.7 acres to now be repurposed and revitalized into its Busy Vertical Farm; an Ag-tech plant propagation facility. 

urban-gro brings extensive experience in controlled environment agriculture and will ensure that the project’s components and design meet the highest standards.  This includes 2nd generation LED lighting systems, room specific ventilation and specific racking to allow for optionality in the propagation produced while focusing on optimal plant performance and efficiency. 

Thomas Sauve, Chief Development Officer of Land Betterment commented, “By partnering with urban-gro, we are bringing the best talent into our project to ensure great execution and high-value outcomes for stakeholders.  Repurposing a former school provides a great footprint for a vertical farm while also creating a positive outcome for the local community and region. The Busy Vertical farm will be a huge step in creating a domestic, sustainable supply chain for the accelerating U.S. greenhouse industry by providing locally grown seedlings and will build on the growing Ag-tech momentum in the region.”   

“We are both excited and inspired to be working with Land Betterment and Betterment Harvest”, added Brad Nattrass, Chief Executive Officer of urban-gro.  “It’s a win-win when we can leverage our leading controlled environment agriculture expertise to create sustainable solutions for communities in Appalachia.  Repurposing a shutdown school into a propagation facility is a wonderful opportunity to positively impact the community and we are honored to help deliver an efficient facility through our integrated approach to design and construction that will support optimal plant performance.”