Natura World to open manufacturing facility in Wichita Falls

19 Mar '10

4 min read

Governor Rick Perry addressed business owners, an energized work force and college students at Midwestern State University's Dillard College of Business Administration as Natura World Inc., an Ontario, Canada-based manufacturer of sustainable, earth-friendly mattresses, announced it would establish its U.S. headquarters in Wichita Falls.

The plant will provide up to 400 jobs for Wichita Falls and its surrounding communities in years to come.

“The success of our state is built primarily on the efforts of hardworking Texans, combined with our low taxes, reasonable and predictable regulatory climate and skilled workforce, which continue to attract employers who know that they'll get the chance to succeed in Texas,” Gov. Perry said. “Our economy has a strong core, which will be strengthened with Natura World's new facility, and the hundreds of jobs for Texans and millions in capital investment it will generate.”

The Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce and Industry finalized an agreement with the mattress manufacturer, which will acquire a 478,000-square-foot manufacturing plant and 100 acres of land that will house their U.S. corporate headquarters, manufacturing facilities, research and development, and warehouse distribution operations.

“We are excited to welcome this environmentally focused company to Wichita Falls,” said Mayor of Wichita Falls Lanham Lyne. “Especially given today's challenging economic times, it's rare to find a manufacturing company that has been so remarkably successful in recent years that they are forced to add capacity to meet growing market demands. This project simply would not have happened without the participation of the Texas Enterprise Fund and area leaders all pulling in the same direction. It proves once again that when we all work together, the results are amazing.”

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry spearheaded an aggressive and creative set of incentives for Natura World, which included improvements to the building, a $5.5 million loan for the next 20 years and cash for jobs. Along with the Governor's Office of Economic Development and Tourism and the City of Wichita Falls, entities that assisted with this development were the City of Burkburnett, Texas Enterprise Fund, Texas Workforce Commission, Vernon College, Wichita County and Workforce Solutions.

“Opening a new operation in the United States gives us much needed room for expansion,” says Ralph Rossdeutscher, President of Natura World Inc. “With this move, our customers will see that we are committed to continuing our rapid growth. Wichita Falls provides us a central location and excellent workforce. Additionally, the generous incentives and commitment Chamber officials were willing to offer Natura made our choice an easy one.”

The Wichita Falls Chamber is responsible for growing the local economy by helping existing businesses that export products and services expand, attracting newcompanies, and assisting new start-up companies. The Chamber's role in economic development is to assemble and package the region's resources and present them in the most competitive way.

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