A new business coming to Kalispell says it intends to hire up to 100 people during its first year of operations. More than twice that number may eventually be hired on.
The company, called SoClean, will start its Kalispell operations early next month. It sells devices to clean and sanitize CPAP machines. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP machines treat obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that hampers the ability to breathe while sleeping.
"It’s very, very effective at treating the condition. In fact, I’m a CPAP user myself," says SoClean Chief Information Officer, Keith Brown.
"And I can tell you from personal experience, it's a very difficult machine to clean."
SoClean’s products clean and sanitize CPAP machines without the need for disassembly, liquids or chemicals.
Brown says the New Hampshire-based company, founded in 2011, is growing by leaps and bounds and needs a second North American office.
"It’s primarily going to be sales, customer service, some technical folks. I imagine we’ll have, eventually, marketing and other areas of the country here in Kalispell also."
The company initially wants to fill 15 to 20 positions and plans to hire up to 100 people in its first year in Montana. Brown says the long-term goal is to hire at least 250 employees.
He describes SoClean’s wage and benefits package as "highly competitive."
"Our starting wage is $15 an hour, plus benefits, so the company has good benefits, both medical and things like a 401k plan."
Brown has lived in the Flathead Valley since the early '90s.
"The Flathead Valley has a very, very good talent pool. As Montanans here we love the beautiful natural landscape that we have and the ability to play outdoors, it really fits well with our company culture in wanting to provide employees that good work/life balance," Brown says.
The company is purchasing a 78,000 sq foot building in the Kalispell area, but Brown would not offer specific location details citing final real estate negotiations.
The Montana Department of Commerce provided two $5,000 grants to SoClean. One for workforce training. The other is offered to companies that plan to develop well-paying jobs.
SoClean is hosting a job recruitment fair this Thursday at Kalispell’s Springhill Suites on Old Reserve Drive from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.