ENID — Koch Industries announced Thursday the company will increase its work force from about 105 people to 130 people at Koch Nitrogen plant in Enid.
The jobs, which will be added on in phases over the next few months, will be in various areas, including safety, environmental, operations, maintenance and administrative positions.
Some of the jobs, which will be hourly, will pay between $15 and $20 an hour, while the salary positions will have various pay ranges, said Plant Manager Mike Kleis and company spokeswoman Mary Beth Jarvis.
The jobs are all full time and come with benefits packages.
“We see a lot of opportunity in Enid,” Kleis said. “We’re pretty excited about what’s happening.”
Kleis added the company feels “bullish” about the Enid plant.
“We know that to grow, we have to have new talent sets available,” Kleis said on the reasoning for adding new jobs.
Jarvis said of all company facilities, growth has been most impressive at the Enid plant.
“It’s really the flagship of our business,” Jarvis said. “It’s a great hub in terms of logistics and location. But it’s always been a great plant.”
Koch Nitrogen on South 78th, east of Enid, produces and distributes nitrogen fertilizer worldwide.
Koch Industries is the world’s third-largest maker and marketer of nitrogen fertilizer. Every day, the Enid plant is capable of making 3,000 tons of anhydrous ammonia, 10 percent of the country’s production.
Last July, Koch Nitrogen broke ground on a multimillion-dollar, 10,000-square-foot control center. It is the first of several capital projects planned at the plant.
Jon Blankenship, Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, and Brent Kisling, Enid Regional Development Alliance’s executive director, both said Koch’s announcement was welcome news.
“We’re pleased Koch continues to invest in our community,” Kisling said. “Last year, we celebrated with them their $20 million control room being put together. They said at that time it would be the first step in a major investment they were going to make at the largest ammonia plant in North America.
“They highlight the Enid plant quite regularly as one of their crown jewels. I’m pleased they’re continuing to invest in it.”
“The new jobs at Koch are great for Enid,” Blankenship said. “Koch has been an outstanding corporate partner and has continued to make a major capital investment in Enid. It’s good that they’re expanding here.”
To apply for one of Koch’s new jobs, visit www.kochcareers.com.
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