Wichita Clutch, the heavy-duty clutch and brake division of Altra Industrial Motion, has experienced growth over the last several years and attributes much of its success — including more than doubling its number of employees — to the support from the city and the Wichita Falls Economic Development Team.

 

Carl Christenson, Altra's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce economic development program has led to significant job creation at Wichita Clutch during the past eight years."

 

Since receiving its first economic development awards from the city in 2003, Wichita Clutch has increased its number of employees from about 40 to nearly 100.

 

Mark Stuebe, Altra's vice president and general manager of its Heavy Duty Clutch Brake Group, said, "Most recently, the city's incentive awards have enabled us to develop innovative new products and penetrate new market segments. We are honored to have received these awards and look forward to future job creation in Wichita Falls."

 

They attributed the success to the economic development team, which is comprised of the 4A Board, the chamber, City Council, Wichita County, Midwestern State University, Vernon College and Workforce Solutions.

 

See more of the article at the Times Reocrd News.

 

WICHITA FALLS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) named the City of Wichita Falls its sixth best value for living in the United States. The distinction was derived through the organization’s third quarter ACCRA Cost of Living Index.

 

“This study signifies what we have known for years: Wichita Falls is a true value for new business development, affordable housing and cultivating a diversified economy,” said President and CEO of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tim Chase. “The ratio of our increasing salaries versus our cost of living is one of the best in the nation. This keeps our city extremely competitive to attract new business and residents.”

 

The top 10 cities leads with Harlingen, Texas as No. 1, which is followed by McAllen, Texas; Brownsville, Texas; Pueblo, Colo.; Springfield, Ill.; Prior Creek, Okla.; Muskogee, Okla.; Commerce-Hunt County, Texas; and Fort Smith, Ark. The survey featured the national average for more than 300 urban areas across the country.  See the full article on Business Wire's Website.

 

 

A company that Randy and Deanna Funston started from scratch — Excalibur Paint & Coatings Ltd. — on Tuesday got a big economic shot in the arm that is anticipated to add up to some 125 additional employees for the hometown business in the next three to five years.
See the rest of this article on timesrecordnews.com.

August 13, 2010
 

It's a tough economy and communities are shedding jobs the nation over. But in Wichita Falls, thousands of jobs are here or on the way. And that's not just by chance.

Names like WDS Global, Natura World and Latex Foam International have become part of the landscape in Texoma. And, companies like Magic Aire have decided to stay put. People the nation, and the world, over are beginning to take notice.

Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Tim Chase credits a bold decision by their board when the economy tanked. "I went to my board of directors," Chase said, "and said "Ladies and gentlemen, you have a decision to make..." and without any deliberation, the board said you must be out there doing more."  See the rest of this article on News Channel 6 website.