In 2005, Iron Horse Brewery got its start at the Ellensburg Business Incubator. It wasn't easy for Iron Horse--owned by Gary and Greg Parker, and founded by Jim Quilter-- to find an appropriate space to brew and package craft beer. The Business Incubator, managed by the Ellensburg Business Development Authority, provided the right space with low start-up lease rates in the appropriately zoned "heavy industrial" area of Ellensburg.  Brewing beer has high capital startup costs. Fortunately the incubator was available to help Iron Horse establish itself with minimal risk. The flexibility of the space and the investment by the incubator allowed Iron Horse to scale ahead of the craft beer boom that was about to hit.  In 2012, Iron Horse outgrew the Incubator space and relocated across town.  During that seven-year period, Iron Horse Brewery expanded from zero to approximately 8,000 barrels of beer annually, making it one of the top 15 craft breweries in Washington State.  Today, Iron Horse is an established regional brewery, the fifth largest in the state, producing over 24,000 barrels a year, serving more than five states in the Pacific Northwest and employing more than 40 people.