Libby to lose 17 jobs Oct. 1

Another 17 jobs will be leaving Libby effective Oct. 1, when Applied Materials closes its facility at 131 Commerce Way and consolidates operations in its Kalispell facility. The company’s local employees are all being offered similar positions in Kalispell, along with relocation assistance, should they choose to remain with the company.

“The decision to close the Libby facility and consolidate the function in Kalispell was difficult,” said Kevin Winston, head of Applied Materials’ corporate communications department. “Several factors, including cycle time reduction and increased efficiencies, support the consolidation of our PPC unit – plating, packaging and cleans – in Kalispell.”

Applied Materials is a global corporation, based in Santa Clara, Calif., with offices and facilities in the United States and Canada, as well as scattered throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The company provides materials engineering for semiconductor, flat panel display and solar photovoltaic industries.

Winston said the consolidation announcement was just made Sept. 16, so he was unsure how many of the Libby employees would make the transition to Kalispell, although he did confirm the entire local management team would be relocating. Winston said the company would provide severance benefits for any employees choosing not to relocate.

Libby City Councilwoman Dejon Raines was shocked by the news.

“This is bad news,” she said. “I know companies do have to make these tough decisions, and I understand that. But, there is just no positive spin to put on this, it’s a tragedy to see Libby lose 17 jobs.”