Monaco to Move Bend Operations to Coburg
(BEND, OR) April 15, 2005 – Monaco Coach Corporation announced at noon today that it will be closing its Bend facility in 60 days and consolidating its operations at its Coburg headquarters. The Bend operation is the Monaco’s only facility on leased property, and the lack of large industrial parcels in Bend available for purchase has been an ongoing concern for the past several years as the company has expanded its production.
Local Central Oregon economic development officials were not privy to highly confidential negotiations taking place between the Governor, the Oregon Economic Community and Development Department (OECDD) and Monaco Coach Corporation. The company was strongly considering a move out of state for the Bend operation.
“This is a huge blow to the Bend community and the regional economy,” stated Roger Lee, Executive Director of Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO). “For the past several years, local Monaco executives have been straightforward about the company’s desire to purchase property for its growing operations here rather than remaining in a lease situation. However, Bend just hasn’t had any options available, and the timeline for Juniper Ridge was pushed too far out to help them. We feared this would happen,” he said.
Monaco currently employs more than 600 people at its Bend plant and is the region’s 7th largest private employer. In terms of employment, it is Bend’s largest manufacturing company. The company’s local plant produces luxury motor coaches, occupying six buildings and approximately 120,000 square feet along the Boyd Acres industrial area in northeast Bend.
While the company will offer relocation packages to workers, EDCO will be working closely with the Oregon Employment Department, Worksource partners and local companies such as Lancair, Epic Air, Fuqua Homes, Jeld-Wen and other growing employers to ensure that workers are able to transition smoothly to new opportunities. “Our first priority is bringing the community together to support employees who want to remain here in Central Oregon,” said EDCO Business Development Manager Jennifer Houston.
Over the next two months EDCO will also be focused on helping to identify new employers for the industrial complex being vacated by Monaco. “We have had several leads in the past 30 days for large scale facilities. However, we clearly have not been promoting this site until this announcement.” noted Lee.
To view the company's press release, please click here.
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