Tuesday, January 8, 2008 - 2:44 PM EST
Sarasota boat-building plant to shut downTampa Bay Business Journal
Genmar Holdings Inc. will close its boat manufacturing facility in Sarasota, affecting nearly 225 employees.
The Minneapolis-based company plans to move its production of 19 models of Wellcraft, Hydra-Sport and Seaswirl boats to other Genmar facilities, according to a release from the company.
The closure will occur over six months. Employees will receive incentives to remain at the plant during that time and some of the Sarasota employees will be offered work at other Genmar facilities, the release said.
Costs of production in Florida compared to other states where Genmar has manufacturing facilities contributed to the decision to shut down operations in Sarasota, said Irwin Jacobs, chair, in the release. Florida has "negative economic manufacturing economic conditions," he stated.
http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tampaba ... st=b_ln_hl