Alumacraft Boat Co. lays off over 100 workers in St. Peter, citing declining sales

Over 100 workers at Alumacraft Boat Co.’s St. Peter production plant lost their jobs this week, marking the second round of layoffs by parent company BRP in eight months. The company cited declining sales in the marine industry as the reason for the job cuts, with 106 workers being affected by the recent layoffs. The cuts are permanent, and the company will pay employees in lieu of notice, with no union representation or recall rights available for affected jobs.

A spokeswoman from BRP stated that the layoffs were necessary to adjust boat production due to softening consumer demand, leading to difficult decisions impacting manufacturing and professional employees. The State Rapid Response Team is assessing what support can be provided to the affected workers, with hopes that they will find other job opportunities in the region given the strong economy in southern Minnesota. St. Peter Mayor Shanon Nowell expressed disappointment over the job losses, highlighting the impact on the small community.

Alumacraft, founded in 1946 in Minneapolis, was one of the first aluminum boat manufacturers in the country before moving operations to St. Peter in 1970. BRP acquired Alumacraft in 2018, and the company reported a decrease in income and revenue in the fourth quarter of the previous year. Despite the challenges faced by the company, St. Peter officials noted that Alumacraft had expanded its multi-business campus in the area, with around 85 employees remaining at the plant.

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