KVAL NEWS REPORT RE WINNEBAGO PURCHASE OF COUNTRY COACH FACILITY
JUNCTION CITY, Ore. - Winnebago Industries plans to open a manufacturing plant in a former Country Coach facility in Junction City, the company and Lane County government announced Tuesday.
The company said it also plans to revive the Country Coach brand.
The company estimates employing 200 people, the county said.
Winnebago salaried wages will range from $45,000 to $125,000 plus a full benefits package.
Winnebago said the company plans to move production of select diesel products to the 200,000 square-foot facility. The company estimates the transition will be complete sometime in the second half of 2017.
"Winnebago is helping to breathe life into an industry that was largely lost during the Great Recession," said Commissioner Jay Bozievich. "Lane County has many skilled and talented workers in need of living-wage manufacturing jobs to sustain themselves and their families."
The Lane County commissioners also voted to use up to $100,000 of video lottery funds to assist with the cost of infrastructure improvements necessary to open the facility. Video lottery funds are distributed by the State of Oregon and must be earmarked for economic development activities.
Winnebago estimates an eventual total investment between $15 and $20 million, including land, buildings, necessary building modifications, production equipment and technology infrastructure, according to Lane County.
"We are pleased to be expanding our operations and look forward to the increased production and service presence this new facility will provide on the west coast," said Scott Degnan, Winnebago's Vice President of Sales and Product Management. "We would also like to express our thanks to Ron Lee, the former owner of the facilities, for providing us with this opportunity."
Country Coach, part of Junction City's past, is now part of Winnebago's future, Degnan said.
"As part of the facility purchase, Winnebago also acquired the intellectual property rights associated with Country Coach and we intend to revive that brand as part of the planned use of the new facility," he said.
Winnebago entered into an agreement on November 18, 2015, with the Lee Joint Trust to purchase property adjacent to the facility which was part of the Country Coach operation in the past.
"We have begun our due diligence evaluation of the property and hope to have that completed in the near future," said Scott Folkers, Winnebago's Vice President and General Counsel said. "We anticipate using this property to provide ongoing customer service to Country Coach owners, as well as providing service to Winnebago owners." --source KVAL news
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