A transition in ownership at a healthcare laundry facility in Amarillo marks a new phase for regional medical linen services in the Texas Panhandle.
Late last week, North Heights Linen Service LLC confirmed the sale of its Amarillo-based operation to Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service, a family-owned provider headquartered in Canada that operates 13 healthcare-focused linen processing plants across the United States and Canada.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ecotex will retain the facility’s current workforce and continue serving healthcare clients throughout the region. Those clients include BSA Health System and a network of smaller rural hospitals that rely on consistent access to sanitized linens for daily operations.
The Amarillo facility was originally created to address a longstanding logistical challenge facing hospitals in the Texas Panhandle. Before its development, many healthcare providers were required to send linens to distant processing sites in Oklahoma City or Albuquerque. This added transportation costs and extended turnaround times for essential medical supplies.
Local officials and stakeholders say the ownership transition is expected to strengthen the original mission of the facility. By expanding operational capacity while maintaining local service relationships, the site is positioned to continue supporting hospitals across West Texas and nearby communities.
Ecotex operates healthcare-only processing plants throughout North America, including facilities in Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico and Oklahoma. With the addition of the Amarillo location, the company is expected to establish a stronger regional presence, using the site as a hub for serving healthcare systems across a wide geographic area.
The project itself has roots in a broader economic development initiative. In 2021, the Amarillo City Council approved a location incentive agreement following earlier action by the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation board. The agreement was designed to support job creation and investment in the North Heights neighborhood, with 2024 marking the beginning of its formal performance period.
Under that agreement, the facility committed to creating 100 full-time positions and sustaining an average of at least $1 million in new annual payroll. The operation currently employs about 60 workers and was built with the expectation of scaling as additional hospital service contracts were secured.
To support those goals, the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation authorized a $250,000 performance-based incentive tied to job creation and payroll benchmarks. The project also included an estimated $3 million in capital investment aimed at establishing long-term infrastructure for regional healthcare support services.
When it opened in June 2021, North Heights Linen Service introduced a distinctive ownership structure. The business operated as a worker-owned cooperative, allowing employees to become ownership participants after completing at least one year of employment, financial literacy training and peer approval. This structure was designed to give workers a voice in company decisions and provide opportunities for long-term financial participation.
The approximately 30,000-square-foot facility, located at 601 W. Amarillo Blvd. in Amarillo, occupies the former site of the Inn of Amarillo. Its development was made possible through collaboration among several community-focused organizations, including the Saint Anthony Legacy Redevelopment Corporation, the North Heights Advisory Association and the Amarillo Area Foundation, along with local private investors.
The initiative was intended not only to strengthen healthcare logistics but also to create employment opportunities within the surrounding North Heights neighborhood, particularly in ZIP code 79107. That hiring focus is expected to remain in place under Ecotex’s ownership.
Financial support for the original project came from a consortium of regional institutions. Participating lenders included Amarillo National Bank, Happy State Bank, FirstBank Southwest, First United Bank and Prosperity Bank. Additional philanthropic backing was provided by the Harrington Foundation and the Amarillo Area Foundation.
Beyond employment and investment impacts, the facility plays a key operational role for healthcare providers throughout the region. By enabling hospitals to process linens locally rather than transporting them hundreds of miles, the site helps reduce turnaround times and improve supply reliability for essential medical materials.
With Ecotex assuming ownership, the facility is expected to continue fulfilling its original mission while operating within a broader regional network. Observers note that maintaining local processing capability remains an important factor in supporting healthcare infrastructure across rural and mid-sized communities in West Texas.
