City of Hamilton and 80 Acres Farms Featured in Public Power is Good for Business Campaign

Hamilton and 80 Acres Video

Strong Partnerships Drive Success

Founded in 2015, 80 Acres Farms is a vertical farming company that uses the latest technology to grow a supply of fresh, healthy produce in the communities that it serves. In 2019, drawn by the City of Hamilton’s vision, the company decided to move its headquarters to the city.

“They [the City of Hamilton] wanted us to be one of the companies bringing advanced manufacturing back to the community and we had a great relationship from the start,” said Jed Portman, Senior Manager of Public Affairs for 80 Acres Farms. “When we came to Hamilton, we actually moved into the Hamilton Municipal Building. We took over city office space. Our CEO works in the former city manager’s office, so when people come to visit us, they immediately understand our relationship with the City [Hamilton].”

One of the biggest drawing points for a business like 80 Acres Farms was, and continues to be, the municipal utility services available through the City of Hamilton. The Hamilton Department of Infrastructure offers gas, electric, water and wastewater, and fiber internet services, offering companies a one-stop shop for all of their utility needs. Additionally, the city’s electric utility was able to offer 80 Acres Farms access to a supply of 100 percent renewable electricity, an important distinction for a company that places an emphasis on sustainability.

The Hamilton Department of Infrastructure has recognized the key role it plays in keeping 80 Acres Farms and other local businesses running effectively and efficiently. The utility, which holds a Diamond Level Reliable Public Power Provider designation from the American Public Power Association, recognizes the importance of service reliability. As such, the department has worked with 80 Acres Farms on things like facility sizing, burying electric lines in the industrial park where the company’s production facility is located to ensure they can’t be knocked down, adding service points, load profiling and more.

“It is important that we are working with providers who are invested in our success, who see us as more than just another account number, and who we know will pick up the phone if something goes wrong,” Portman said. “If the sun turns off, we need to know who to call. We have had the same contacts at the City of Hamilton, more or less, since the beginning. We know who to talk to when we have questions or issues. That accessibility and that continuity have been important to us as we have grown and have helped operate more efficiently.”

While the relationship between the City of Hamilton and 80 Acres Farms may seem extraordinary, it is just standard operating procedure for the Hamilton Department of Infrastructure and the businesses operating in Hamilton.

“I would like to say what we have done for 80 Acres Farms, we will do for any business,” said Bill Hudson, Director of Utility Operations for the Hamilton Department of Infrastructure. “We try to have the same one-stop service for everyone. Residential, commercial, we try to do this for everybody. We pride ourselves in that we’re public servants. We’re not here for profit; we’re here to serve the public to the best of our ability.” 

Watch the video about the relationship between the City of Hamilton and 80 Acres Farms above. 

About the Campaign

Throughout 2025, AMP plans to feature AMP Member utilities and the local businesses they serve in the Public Power is Good for Business multimedia campaign. The campaign will produce a series of videos with the goal of promoting the benefits of public power from the perspective of commercial and industrial customers, highlighting the reliability of public power, as well as the variety of businesses that operate in AMP’s Member communities. It will also illustrate the reasons public power communities are an attractive option for businesses.