RV manufacturer promises hundreds of jobs in Nampa

Elkhart, Ind.-based Heartland Recreational Vehicles is moving into a former Micron factory in Nampa to build recreational vehicles for distribution in the West, the company announced with a press release.

Heartland expects to start production in the first quarter with about 120 employees. It said it will grow to 275 employees in three years.

“Their ultimate buildout is 500 positions over five years,” said Beth Ineck, Nampa’s economic development director.

The jobs don’t stop there. Heartland reportedly is in discussions with suppliers that are interested in locating near Heartland’s Nampa plant, said Jana Jones, director of economic development services at the Boise Valley Economic Partnership.

“It was a very fast process but it was very competitive,” said Jones, adding that Utah was also wooing Heartland.

BVEP only got into talks with Heartland in June. Jones said the company wanted to start production quickly. Nampa had a former 248,000-square-foot Micron structure available near another Micron building occupied by GoGo SqueeZ, which started producing applesauce in November. Heartland is looking for another 40 or 50 acres to purchase, Jones said.

Heartland is the 20^th company to qualify for Idaho’s year-old tax reimbursement incentive. The Idaho Department of Commerce awarded Heartland a 20 percent tax credit over 10 years valued at $3.9 million.

In return, Commerce said it expects $27.7 million in new state revenue from Heartland.

Heartland expects to invest about $12 million to become operational at 900 Karcher Road in Nampa.

“We are seeing significant growth of the recreational vehicle market, particularly in the West, so we realized the need for additional production to meet the strong demand from our dealers and consumers alike,” Heartland President Chris Hermon said in a release. “As we sought a location to expand our manufacturing capabilities to meet that demand, the Boise Valley brought the perfect mix of location, quality of workforce and business-friendly environment.”

Heartland was established in December 2003, and recreational vehicle giant Thor Industries acquired Heartland in 2010.

Heartland said its average yearly salary is $38,250.

“Nampa has made great strides in cultivating a diversity of industries in our community,” Nampa Mayor Bob Henry said in a release. “We’ve seen impressive growth in the food industry with global leaders like Materne opening its GoGo SqueeZ plant. We’re proud to welcome another leader to our region with Heartland RV and its new manufacturing and assembly facility making Nampa a hub of recreational vehicle production for the West Coast market.”