Area Development
Kingsdown, Inc., the nation's largest independent and employee-owned mattress manufacturer, entered into a long-term lease agreement to acquire manufacturing space inside the former U.S. Postal Service regional sorting center on Imperial Drive in Waco, Texas.

The company is investing $2 million in the 100,000-square-foot facility to convert it into a state-of-the-art sleep products manufacturing and distribution center that will support its growing business in the central portion of the country. The new plant will create 50 new local jobs.

“We are extremely excited about the opportunity to expand our operation to McLennan County to more effectively support our business growth in the region," said Kingsdown President/CEO Frank Hood. "The dedicated professionals in the public and private sectors of the City of Waco and McLennan County have been fabulous to work with and we look forward to long and successful partnership together."

Kingsdown, Inc. founded in 1904 and headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, is a manufacturer of premium mattress systems serving leading retailers across the United States and in more than 20 countries.

Company officials worked closely with the Greater Waco Chamber and its economic development team, as well as other government entities to close the deal. Hiring at the Waco plant is expected to begin immediately, and the company plans to start manufacturing by Jan. 19, 2015. This will be Kingsdown's sixth domestic manufacturing facility.