WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) – After years of anticipation, Panda Biotech has officially opened its doors in Wichita Falls, creating the largest industrial hemp processing facility in the U.S. The milestone was celebrated with a lavish grand opening event showcasing the facility's innovative and economic potential.
Industrial hemp was legalized as an agricultural commodity in 2014, giving it the same status as crops like cotton and allowing it to be grown across the country. Now, Wichita Falls is home to a facility that aims to revolutionize manufacturing with an environmentally friendly alternative.
Panda Biotech President Dixie Carter said it takes a significant workforce to run the facility and that the initial hiring phase is just the beginning.
“When fully operational it will create 60 to 65 jobs. But this is just the first phase of the project. Phase one is a big undertaking. Phase two will hopefully come sooner. In addition, many ancillary jobs are being created including in agriculture, transport and hospitality,” Mr Carter said.
Despite the excitement, the road to opening the facility has been a bumpy one — the project began in the middle of a global pandemic and has struggled with supply chain shortages and volatile financial markets — but Mayor Short expressed excitement about the company's perseverance and its potential impact on the local economy.
“The half-million square feet of this facility, the industrial jobs and plant growth, is something that hasn't been seen anywhere else before, so we're really pleased to welcome this facility to our city,” Mayor Short said.
The establishment of Panda Biotech represents a nine-figure investment in Wichita Falls and promises significant economic growth.
“These are good jobs. I mean, these are certainly not minimum wage jobs. These are very good, competitive jobs, and they can only help everyone in our community, because many of them will stay local,” Mayor Short emphasized.
Wichita Falls was chosen as the location for this facility for many reasons.
“We are very excited that Panda Biotech chose Wichita Falls. My family has been ranching on Seymour Road for nearly 20 years, so it feels like home,” Carter said.
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