Life Fitness to Add Jobs in Owatonna

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development sent a press release that Life Fitness will be adding jobs in Owatonna.

Life Fitness is based in Rosemont, Ill., and will be expanding Cybex in Owatonna by 150,000 square feet to increase the production of exercise equipment. This is a $22.9 million expansion and will add 110 jobs, which will include welding, fabrication, powder coat painting and assembly. The pay average will be $18.37 per hour.

This expansion project to Cybex from Life Fitness is being supported by DEED with an $850,000 grant from the Job Creation Fund. The money will be sent and received once the commitment to the jobs and investment have been met.

DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy says that production will double in Owatonna with the Life Fitness expansion and by creating job opportunities is putting a major commitment to the area.

Life Fitness high-end commercial fitness products include more than 200 varieties such as the strength machines and the Cybex Arc Trainer. Factories are also located in Ramsey, Minn.; Franklin Park, Ill.; Falmouth, Ky.; Tulsa, Okla.; Bristol and Delavan, Wis.; Medway, Mass.; and in Hungary.

Life Fitness products also include game room furniture, billiards tables and accessories.

Proposed by Gov. Mark Dayton in 2013, the Job Creation Fund is a program that provides money to businesses that meet certain criteria to receive financial assistance, which include creating at least 10 full-time jobs and invest no less than $500,000 to be eligible.

Since 2014, when the Job Creation Fund first launched, $31.1 million has been awarded by DEED to 64 business expansions in Minnesota with a creation of more than 3,800 full-time jobs.