Racine, Wisconsin – Cree Lighting plans to eliminate 172 jobs in Racine, triggering a state WARN notice.
According to a letter dated Thursday, March 12, the company notified the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and Racine Mayor Cory Mason that it expects to permanently eliminate 172 employee positions at its facility at 9201 Washington Avenue.
The notice states the layoffs are tied to a “plant closing and/or mass layoff” involving the permanent closure of one or more operating units within the facility. Employee separations are expected to begin Friday, March 13, 2026, according to the filing.
The letter was submitted under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act and Wisconsin’s business closing and mass layoff law, which require advance notice when large workforce reductions occur.
Company officials said earlier notice could not be provided because the situation qualifies under the “faltering company” exception in WARN statutes. According to the notice, Cree Lighting had been actively seeking capital or business opportunities to avoid or delay the layoffs and believed issuing earlier notice could have jeopardized those efforts.
The filing states the information provided reflects the best available details at the time of the notice. A list of affected job titles, employee counts, and anticipated separation dates was referenced as attached documentation.
Cree Lighting operates manufacturing and operations at the Racine site, which has long been part of the region’s industrial base.
Large layoffs can affect local supply chains, commuting patterns, and job opportunities across the Racine area. Workforce agencies typically coordinate response services when WARN notices are filed.
The layoffs may be particularly relevant for students and young workers entering the regional job market, where manufacturing jobs often serve as early career pathways.
State workforce officials typically provide transition assistance and job placement support when large layoffs occur.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input.
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