SHERIDAN (WNE) — Weatherby, Inc. officially opened the doors of its Sheridan manufacturing facility Thursday, kicking off an operation that officials believe will be a boon to both the local and state economies.

Last year, the iconic firearms manufacturer announced it would move  to Sheridan from California, where it had operated since its founding in 1945.

The Wyoming Business Council and the Sheridan Economic and Education Development Authority (SEEDA) put together a $12.6 million grant package to lure Weatherby to the state.

On Thursday, state and local officials celebrated the company’s move as a victory in Wyoming’s ongoing push to diversify its economy.

Weatherby’s opening also represents the continued growth of light manufacturing in Sheridan.

Weatherby President Adam Weatherby told the hundreds of attendees who showed up to witness the grand opening that while the company will draw on its, and Wyoming’s, traditions, the opening of the new facility represents a step forward.

“This isn’t about the past, it’s about the future,” Weatherby said.

Weatherby said 71 employees will staff the approximately 30,000 square-foot manufacturing facility, many of whom were hired locally. 

Wyoming offered a stark contrast to California which, Weatherby said, is exactly what the company was looking for.

“We moved from the highest population state to the lowest population state; the highest taxes to the best taxes; the not-so-best gun laws to the absolute best gun laws,” Weatherby said.

Under the package put together by the state and local economic development agencies, the manufacturing facility is owned by SEEDA and being leased to Weatherby. A similar arrangement was used on Cody Laboratories’ warehouse in 2015, which is owned by Forward Cody and leased to Cody Labs. With the drug-making business’ recent announcement that it’s closing, Forward Cody says it plans to “discuss the lease and the settlement of that obligation” with the company.