The Frisco Economic Development Corp. approved a $371,800 performance agreement March 17 with Wiley X for the company to relocate its operations to Frisco.
Should Wiley X accept the terms of the agreement, the company would relocate their headquarters, manufacturing, research and development, warehouse distribution and retail operations to Star Business Park in north Frisco, said Jason Ford, Frisco Economic Development Corp. vice president. This will create 88 full-time jobs, which will be a combination of those relocating from California, and creating new jobs in Frisco as well, Ford said.
In exchange, the Economic Development Corp. is agreeing to a performance-based grant that would supply $4,225 for every net full-time job created.
Wiley X Inc. was founded in 1987 by Myles Freeman Sr., a U.S. Veteran, with the goal of providing “superior protective eyewear to the brave men and women who defend our country,” per the company website. Wiley X now offers a variety of different types of apparel to anyone who faces harsh work environments and outdoor activities.
With the agreement approved, Wiley X will make a final investment decision after seeing the actions from the Economic Development Corp. A confirmation from the company is anticipated in the next few weeks. Their goal is to be operational in Frisco by mid-2023, Ford said.
Ford called the agreement a “strategic win” for Frisco.
“Frisco is Sports City, USA, and this company makes high-performance gear in sports and military applications,” Ford said. “So it's a great fit for our strategy.”
Wiley X is part of a number of companies coming to Frisco from out of state, Ford said.
“Many of [these companies] are looking at Frisco and many of them are coming to Frisco sooner than they ever have before,” he said. “We think that this would be a great opportunity for growing ... and we'll continue to find ways to help support these like Wiley X to integrate into our business community and into the rest of our community as well.”
Editor's note: This article has been updated to include additional information.
