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The Village of Sturtevant is facing its worst week of economic losses in recent memory after two of its largest employers announced major workforce reductions just days apart, eliminating more than 615 jobs combined from Racine County.

Providence, Rhode Island-based United Natural Foods, Inc. notified state and local officials this week that it plans to permanently shut down its warehouse and distribution facility in Sturtevant and lay off the 443 people who work there, according to a story from BizTimes Milwaukee.

A WARN Act notice filed Monday with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development says layoffs are expected to begin this summer, the BizTimes article continues.

The announcement came less than a week after Cree Lighting, a manufacturer of high-performance LED lighting headquartered less than three miles away, notified the state that it was ending manufacturing operations and immediately laying off 172 workers, as noted in an article from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Former Sturtevant Village President Steve Jansen called the back-to-back announcements a gut punch for the community.

“It’s unfortunate to lose these employers,” Jansen said. “I feel bad for the workers.”

When Racine County Eye reached Sturtevant Village Administrator Chris Anderson, he said he had no comment about either closure or the potential effect on the village’s budget.

UNFI: Sturtevant’s $9.5 Million Investment

When UNFI came to Sturtevant, it came with fanfare and with a price tag.

According to an article from the Mount Pleasant-Sturtevant Patch in Dec. 2012, the Sturtevant Village Board and Community Development Authority unanimously approved a development agreement with the company that included $6 million in incentives from the village and an additional $3.5 million from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

At the time, Jansen, as village president, made no apologies for the investment.

“Jobs are the name of the game and we looked at what we had to do to attract this quality company,” he said at the time.

The village’s package included $4.5 million for land acquisition, which it then sold to UNFI for $1, along with $630,000 for infrastructure improvements and nearly $500,000 in permit fees, the Patch article reads. In exchange, UNFI agreed to give primary employment consideration to Racine County residents, with a guaranteed minimum of 220 jobs and a total development value of no less than $32 million.

UNFI broke ground in spring 2013 and opened its 425,000-square-foot facility at 3138 Highway H in 2014. When it opened, the facility employed 220 workers and served as the company’s Midwest distribution hub. Over the following decade, that workforce grew to 443 people.

This week, UNFI said in a statement quoted by BizTimes Milwaukee that it is closing the facility to consolidate operations at its Joliet, Illinois, location.

“As part of our strategic focus on optimizing our network to more effectively and efficiently serve our customers and suppliers, we are transitioning service from our Racine, Wisconsin, distribution center and expanding our Joliet, Illinois, DC’s capabilities to support long-term growth in the greater Chicago market,” the statement reads. “We are grateful to our associates at the Racine distribution center and are working to support them through the transition.”

Among those losing their jobs are 68 drivers. As noted by the BizTimes article, 77 drivers in 2025, at the Sturtevant facility voted to unionize and join Teamsters Local 200. The company acknowledged that some employees affected by the layoffs are represented by the union.

Cree Lighting: Four Decades of Local Roots

The story of Cree Lighting in Sturtevant stretches back more than 40 years, before it carried the Cree name.

In early 1982, electrical engineer Alan Ruud started building a lighting business in his two-car garage overlooking Lake Michigan. That company, Ruud Lighting, grew from a startup where no one drew a salary in its early years into one of the Racine area’s signature manufacturers, eventually settling at 9201 Washington Ave. in Sturtevant.

Jansen called it “a gem of the county.”

A 2011 article from LED Professional recounts that North Carolina-based Cree Inc. acquired Ruud Lighting for $525 million, and the Washington Ave. location served as its headquarters.

In 2019, Cree Inc. sold the lighting division to Sycamore, Illinois-based Ideal Industries for $310 million, according to BizTimes Milwaukee. At that time, the company employed more than 1,000 people. In 2023, Cree Lighting joined the ADLT family of lighting companies, continuing to operate from its Sturtevant headquarters, according to the company’s website.

In a statement quoted in the BizTimes article, Cree Lighting president Sabu Krishnan said the company is not closing outright.

“While we are closing the manufacturing unit in Racine, with the exception of maintaining a pilot operation, we will continue to operate certain business functions at the Racine facility, including R&D, engineering, sales and marketing, finance, and quality control,” a company spokesperson said.

For Jansen, the end of manufacturing at the Washington Ave. plant is a loss that goes beyond the job count. He described the closing as “heartbreaking,” given the company’s storied history in Sturtevant dating to Ruud’s founding more than four decades ago.

WARN Act: Both Companies Face Legal Scrutiny

Both closures have triggered legal scrutiny over whether workers received the notice they were entitled to under federal and state law.

The federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act – the WARN Act – requires employers with 100 or more workers to provide at least 60 days’ written notice before a mass layoff or plant closing. That notice must go to affected employees, their union representatives if applicable, and designated state and local government officials.

The intent of the law is to give workers and their families time to prepare for job loss, seek new employment, and pursue retraining opportunities. Employers who violate the WARN Act may be liable for up to 60 days of back pay and benefits for each affected employee. Wisconsin has its own parallel statute with similar requirements.

Cree Lighting filed its WARN notice with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development on March 12, the same day it began laying off workers, without providing any advance notice at all, BizTime notes in its reporting.

The company invoked the law’s “faltering company” exception, which allows employers facing imminent financial collapse to bypass the standard notice period if they can demonstrate they were actively seeking capital or new business that could have prevented the closure, and that issuing a public notice would have jeopardized those efforts.

According to the BizTimes article, Cree Lighting stated in its filing that it had been pursuing capital and business opportunities up until the decision was made and believed earlier notice would have undermined those efforts.

UNFI filed its WARN notice on March 16, 2026, also without providing the full 60-day advance notice to workers.

Chicago-based law firm Strauss Borrelli PLLC has announced it is investigating whether Cree Lighting violated the WARN Act and whether laid-off workers may be entitled to back pay and benefits. Strauss Borrelli A separate investigation into UNFI’s compliance has also been opened.

Affected workers at either company who believe their rights under the WARN Act may have been violated can contact the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development or consult with an employment attorney.

The DWD typically coordinates rapid response services when large layoffs occur, including on-site job search assistance, resume help, and retraining referrals to help displaced workers transition to new employment.

Racine County Eye reached out to the Racine County Economic Development Corporation for comment and will update this story if/when a representative responds.

RACINE COUNTY, Wis. — Nearly 625 people in Racine County will be losing their jobs.

Organic food company – United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) – announced it will shut down its warehouse and distribution facility in Sturtevant and lay off 443 workers.

What You Need To Know

This comes just days after Cree Lighting, a manufacturer of LED lighting based in Sturtevant, revealed that it is laying off 172 workers. That represents about half of its workforce.

A leader with Cree Lighting did not provide more details to Spectrum News. He only said that some of the workers who are losing their jobs have already been hired by a Wisconsin company that Cree Lighting has long contracted with.

UNFI is less than three miles away from Cree Lighting. The Rhode Island-based company is the main supplier for Whole Foods. It built its 425,000-square-foot facility in Sturtevant in 2014 and made it the company’s Midwest distribution hub.

A spokesperson for UNFI said the company is closing the Sturtevant facility as it expands its facility in Joliet, Illinois, southwest of Chicago.

The full statement reads:

“As part of our strategic focus on optimizing our network to more effectively and efficiently serve our customers and suppliers, we are transitioning service from our Racine, Wisconsin, distribution center (DC) and expanding our Joliet, Illinois, DC’s capabilities to support long-term growth in the greater Chicago market,” she said. “The modern technology investments we’re making in Joliet are expected to increase the DC’s capacity and improve service to our partners over time. We are grateful to our associates at the Racine distribution center and are working to support them through the transition.”

According to UNFI, layoffs will begin June 20 and end by Aug. 1.

Mark Hanley, who helps lead General Teamsters Local 200, said the layoffs include 79 truck drivers represented by the union.

“We were a little blindsided,” said Hanley. “Taken back by it. We spent a lot of time and effort to get these guys a contract they deserved. “We will reach out to DWD (Department of Workforce Development) to help with job placement and provide a list of other companies we work with in Wisconsin to union members.”

Some UNFI workers shared their frustration with Spectrum News on Wednesday. They did not want to be share their name or be on camera, as they now prepare to file for unemployment.

One man, who said he’s been with UNFI for 10 years, told Spectrum News that he found out he was losing his job on a conference call Monday. He said he was told by the company that if he finds another job before June 20, he could leave immediately.

Spectrum News reached out to Racine Area Manufactures and Commerce but did not hear back.

Sturtevant’s Village Administrator declined to comment on the layoffs and how the closure of UNFI will impact the village moving forward.

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.

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RACINE — Downtown Racine officials have released the official lineup for the 18th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, scheduled for Saturday, March 14 at noon, as the city prepares for one of its largest spring community events.

The parade will begin at the intersection of State Street and Main Street, traveling south along Main Street before turning west onto Sixth Street and ending near City Hall.

Organizers say the parade will feature more than 35 groups, including local schools, dance teams, businesses, community organizations and public officials.

Participants scheduled to appear in this year’s parade include the Racine Fire Department, Racine Raiders football team, Miss Racine Scholarship Organization, Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin, Harbor Lite Yacht Club, and Findorff Construction, along with a range of youth performance groups and cheer teams.

Music will also play a prominent role in the celebration, with McAuliffe’s Pub Irish Music performing as part of the procession.

Other groups participating include:

The parade also includes appearances by Racine County Sheriff’s Office personnel and Alderman Tyler Townsend, who represents Racine’s 2nd District.

“There’s nothing quite like parade day in Downtown Racine,” said Kelly Kruse, executive director of the Downtown Racine Corporation. “It’s a tradition that brings the entire community together and fills downtown with incredible energy.”

Following the parade, bars and restaurants throughout downtown Racine will host St. Patrick’s Day-themed food, drink specials and live music.

Several venues have scheduled performances for the evening:

Organizers say the downtown celebration is designed to encourage visitors to explore local businesses after the parade concludes.

Attendees can park in several downtown ramps for $4 all-day parking, including:

The event is expected to draw thousands of residents and visitors to downtown Racine.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade has become a staple community celebration in Racine over the past two decades. Organized by the Downtown Racine Corporation, the event aims to bring together residents, businesses and community groups while celebrating Irish heritage and the arrival of spring.

The Downtown Racine Corporation is a nonprofit organization that works to support economic development, promote downtown events and attract visitors to the area.

Additional details about the parade and downtown celebrations can be found at racinedowntown.com or through the organization’s social media pages.