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LOGAN —Hundreds of people are looking for new jobs in northern Utah after one of Cache County's largest employers, ICON Health and Fitness, announced layoffs.
Approximately 400 manufacturing jobs are expected to be off the books by the end of October.
ICON said it's not a sign that the company is doing poorly. On the contrary, the company said it is trying to grow.
In Logan, ICON is a household name for most locals.
"They've been a stable company," said resident Ernest Rendon. "Done a lot for the community."
The company has been designing and crafting treadmills and other workout technology for decades. ICON underwent some major changes on Tuesday.
"It's a sad day and it was a very tough decision," said Colleen Logan of ICON. "It's an important one to make to preserve competitive efficiencies."
ICON announced a move that will leave 400 manufacturing workers without a job after October 31.
The company said it sees itself increasingly as a global operation. It now plans to expand its manufacturing operations in China. Other plants are located in Taiwan and Pakistan. A large base of 1,500 workers will remain in Logan.
It's a sad day and it was a very tough decision. It's an important one to make to preserve competitive efficiencies.
–Colleen Logan, ICON
"It's a decision we have to make to go forward for the future," Logan said.
Kirk Jensen, Logan City economic development director said, "Our thoughts go out with all those workers. Those impacts are personal. They're heart-felt."
Logan city leaders said they believe the local economy, with low unemployment rates, can absorb any workers looking for new jobs.
"We hear from the employers that sometimes it's tough to hire people they need," Jensen said. "So now you have 400 new people in the market."
Longtime residents said they understand why the changes are coming.
"Hate to see that they're sending things out of the country, but you know … reality is reality," said Rendon.
ICON said it believes it's being as fair as possible with local workers by offering them over three months' notice. Workers who stay on staff until Halloween will get incentives and a severance package.
The company said it also has plans to help place workers elsewhere.
