Daniel Sullivan, communications director for Winnebago Industries, told the Business Record why the company is laying off 196 people in northern Iowa. Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act data released Thursday noted that 128 people in Forest City, 30 people in Lake Mills, 20 people in Charles City and 18 in Waverly will lose their jobs, effective June 13.

“In response to recent cyclical shifts in the RV industry including decreased customer demand, elevated inventory levels, and other business considerations, we are balancing the workforce size within the Winnebago brand’s motorhome division,” Sullivan said in an email. “With this adjustment, we had to make the difficult decision to eliminate some roles at our Iowa campuses.”

The company is providing assistance to workers who are being laid off, he said.

“We remain committed to the success of our flagship Winnebago brand and continue to be invested in the Iowa community,” he added.

Winnebago Industries’ executive offices have been located in Minnesota since 2016. In 2021, the company moved its headquarters from Forest City to Eden Prairie, Minn. At that time, 2,100 workers were employed at the Forest City location. Forest City is about 40 miles northwest of Mason City, and 136 miles south of Eden Prairie.

Winnebago Industries was founded in 1962 by John and Lousie Hanson in Forest City. The Hansons and a group of local investors convinced a California-based travel-trailer manufacturer to open a branch in Forest City. When the California company failed, the local investors took over. The company’s first motorhome was produced in 1966.

In more recent years, Winnebago has purchased other vehicle businesses, such as luxury RV maker Newmar in 2019 and Barletta Pontoon Boats in 2021.