Plant to seek incentives to bring new jobs to Wichita Falls

A longtime Wichita Falls manufacturer will approach the city for some financial incentives to expand its operation and hire a few new employees.

Wichita Clutch was founded in 1949 as a manufacturer of heavy-duty clutches and brakes for industrial uses.

The company, located at 2800 Fisher Road, was acquired by Altra Corp., which sold to Regal Rexnord in 2022.

Now the Wichita Falls site is in competition with sites in Slovakia and China for a brake production line located in Wisconsin, according to an application from Regal Rexnord to the city’s Economic Development Corporation.

The corporation wants a cash-for-jobs deal from the city to create five new jobs here. The city would contribute $7,500 per job in exchange for the promise to create the jobs.

The company said it’s possible equipment would be moved to the Wichita Falls site from Wisconsin at a net present value of $650,000.

Regal Rexnord said the new jobs would pay an average of about $60,000 annually per employee before benefits. The plant currently has 67 workers.

The incentive proposal will go before the EDC board meeting at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in Room 6 of the MPEC at 1000 Fifth St.