April 2007: Dispatches
CULVER — After more than 30 years manufacturing saltwater
fishing boats, Seaswirl Boats will close by the end of the
month. The city’s largest employer will lay off about 170
people. Roger R. Cloutier II, president and chief operating
officer of Minneapolis-based parent company Genmar Holdings,
calls the closure a cost-effective move. While production of
Seaswirl boats will move to Little Falls, Minn., after the
closure, most of Seaswirl’s administrative functions
moved to Genmar’s Sarasota, Fla., facilities several
months ago. Genmar will offer some Seaswirl employees the
opportunity to relocate to another one of its facilities.
Culver Mayor Daniel Harden is one of the affected employees. He
worked at Seaswirl for 26 years until he was laid off in
November as part of the closure.
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