Council Backs Howmet Enterprise Zone Bid

Wichita Falls leaders advanced a state incentive nomination tied to a proposed $70 million Howmet Aerospace expansion.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Regional Economics

Corrugated steel industrial building wall and staged steel beams on flat open prairie under clear afternoon sun. — The Wichita Falls City Council voted Tuesday to nominate Howmet Castings and Services for a Texas Enterprise Zone designation tied to a proposed $70 million expansion. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Wichita Falls City Council approved a resolution nominating Howmet Castings and Services, Inc. for designation under the Texas Enterprise Zone Program. The move supports Howmet's planned $70 million expansion adding about 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

Why it matters

The expansion could add roughly 200 full-time jobs and grow Howmet's local workforce to around 1,100 employees, a significant development for Wichita Falls' economy. Council approval does not guarantee the company will receive the incentives, which depend on state designation.

The proposal centers on a $70 million investment adding about 100,000 square feet and roughly 200 full-time jobs, with Howmet's workforce projected to reach about 1,100. State approval of the Enterprise Zone nomination and final incentive eligibility have not yet been determined.

The players

Howmet Aerospace

A major manufacturer of aerospace and transportation components that has operated in Wichita Falls for nearly five decades.

Wichita Falls City Council

The elected governing body of Wichita Falls that approved the nomination and the earlier incentive package.

The details

The council voted Tuesday, November 3, to nominate Howmet for the Texas Enterprise Zone Program, which lets qualifying businesses receive sales and use tax refunds tied to capital investment and job creation. The expansion site sits immediately west of Howmet's existing facility near Bacon Switch Road and Interstate 44, and the company has operated in Wichita Falls for nearly five decades.

September: Council approved an economic development incentive package of up to $5.275 million for Howmet.
Tuesday, November 3: Council approved the Enterprise Zone nomination resolution.
December 1: Deadline for Enterprise Zone program applications.

Roadmap

The nomination uses the Texas Enterprise Zone Program, which rewards qualifying businesses with sales and use tax refunds tied to capital investment and job creation. Howmet's bid follows that state framework in applying it to a local manufacturing expansion.

If the state approves the designation, Howmet could receive sales and use tax refunds tied to its investment and hiring, which may influence local job openings. Residents may see employment opportunities expand as the expansion moves forward.

The takeaway

Local tax incentives tied to job creation can shape where manufacturing growth lands, and readers tracking Wichita Falls should watch the state's decision and the December 1 application deadline.

What happens next

Enterprise Zone applications are due December 1, and the state's decision on the nomination will determine whether Howmet qualifies for the incentives.