For Immediate Release: April 26, 2006

Media Contact: Ryan Entz, 268-1152, rentz@wichitachamber.org

INVISTA Announces Expansion in Wichita

60 additional jobs to be added at corporate headquarters

of fiber and polymer manufacturer

Wichita, Kan. – The Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition (GWEDC) announced today that INVISTA will expand its corporate headquarters in Wichita. The move brings 60 new jobs with an average annual salary of $85,000. The jobs will be in a variety of disciplines, including accounting, finance, legal, commercial development, business analysis, and commercial development.

“Building on our previous relationship with INVISTA, we appreciated the company considering Wichita for a possible expansion,” said Patrick French, president of GWEDC. “We can never take any of our high-quality, high-paying corporate jobs and expansions for granted. In this case, we are continually competing with every office that INVISTA has throughout the world.”

In early 2004, INVISTA selected Wichita as its global headquarters. INVISTA has already exceeded the five-year projection of 206 jobs it committed to create at that time. For this expansion, the company will add an average annual payroll of $5.1 million and make a capital investment of $500,000 in building renovations.

“INVISTA’s decision to expand its operation in Kansas is a great testament to city, county, and state efforts,” said Governor Kathleen Sebelius. “The high-wage jobs created from this expansion will be a tremendous asset to the Wichita area. I’m proud Kansas continues to be a great place to do business, and that our state continues to attract quality jobs such as these.”

An integrated fiber and polymers manufacturer, INVISTA is best known for brands such as STAINMASTER® carpet and LYCRA® fiber. INVISTA is a wholly owned, independently managed subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc.

The Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition coordinated a package of incentives from the city of Wichita, Sedgwick County and the Kansas Department of Commerce that includes forgivable loans of $125,000 each from the city of Wichita and Sedgwick County, as well as a $35,000 forgivable loan from the state of Kansas and capital investment reimbursements of $135,000. In addition, the project qualified for tax credits and job training programs from the Kansas Department of Commerce.

"I am excited that Wichita has again attracted such high quality, lucrative jobs, courtesy of a home-grown company.” Mayor Carlos Mayans said. “The INVISTA announcement is the latest sign that our collaborative, public-private economic development efforts are working."

Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Ben Sciortino said, "When INVISTA first came to Sedgwick County, we felt we had been quite successful in attracting great jobs for our community. But, this announcement of an additional 60 professional positions is an added bonus. I am especially pleased when companies are flourishing in our community, and are able to expand their business for greater potential in the future."

French said, “None of these projects would work without the quick and thoughtful response from the Kansas Department of Commerce, city of Wichita and Sedgwick County. Our public partners make the difference in our competing for projects.”

Roger Ramseyer, public affairs director at INVISTA, said, “The Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition coordinated various potential incentives in a responsive and timely manner. We appreciate the efforts of the GWEDC, city, county, and state, and believe the payroll and other taxes gained – along with other economic benefits for Wichita hotels, restaurants, and airlines that a corporate headquarters tends to generate -- will provide the city, county, and state with a significant return on this economic incentive investment.”

More information about INVISTA and open positions currently posted can be found at www.INVISTA.com.   

The Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition is the regional public/private partnership charged with creating and executing the region’s business recruitment, retention and expansion plans.

INVISTA is an integrated fibers and polymers business with a global presence. It operates five major businesses: Apparel; Interiors; Intermediates; Performance Fibers; and Polymer and Resins. INVISTA delivers exceptional value for its customers through market insights and technology innovations, along with a powerful portfolio of some of the most recognized global brands and trademarks in their respective industries including: ADI-PURE®, ANTRON®, AVORA® FR, INVISTA® C12, COMFOREL®, COOLMAX®, CORDURA®, CORFREE®, DACRON®, INVISTA® DBE, DYTEK®, ESP®,  FORCE™, INVISTA® NYCO, LYCRA®, POLARGUARD®, POLYSHIELD®, SOLARMAX®, STAINMASTER®, SUPPLEX®, SUPRIVA™, TACTEL®, TACTESSE®, TERATE®, TERATHANE® and THERMOLITE®. More information can be found at www.INVISTA.com.