Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — In a surprising twist at the end of the Thief River Falls City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 18, Mayor Mike Lorenson revealed the city has received inquiries from several potential investors interested in Arctic Cat. City leaders remain hopeful that a deal will be reached with Textron Inc., Arctic Cat’s parent company.
Despite the looming plant closure, Lorenson urged residents to stay calm, noting that negotiations involving legal and financial matters take time. In the meantime, local employers such as DigiKey and Sanford Health stand ready to support displaced workers.
TRF News reached out to Textron spokesperson Brandon Haddock for comment, but no response had been received as of Thursday morning.
Textron announced on February 27 that Arctic Cat’s Thief River Falls plant will suspend operations indefinitely by May 22, impacting approximately 385 workers. An additional 19 employees are being laid off this month in St. Cloud. The company filed a WARN Act notice covering both plants.
Textron’s earlier SEC filing revealed the company is considering strategic alternatives for its powersports division, citing weakening demand. Production pauses will extend indefinitely through the first half of 2025, leaving the community and workers in limbo.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.