Ford Design Studios Relocates from Irvine to Long Beach for New EV Hub
Ford Motor Co. announced its decision to close its West Coast design studio in Orange County and intends to relocate to a new electric vehicle development hub in Long Beach, according to a company spokesperson on July 17. This decision was prompted by Ford’s lease running out at 3 Glen Bell Way which is the location of the Irvine Spectrum Center Design Studio. The studio’s closure was also mentioned in a filing with California’s Employment Development Department (EDD), as part of the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. Marlina Frederick, the human resources director for Ford in Long Beach, stated in a letter to the EDD that the Irvine studio’s closure on November 30 might lead to approximately 263 job cuts as workers shift their locations to Long Beach and Dearborn, Michigan. The employees were, however, offered employment in these cities.
For any workers impacted by this shift, getting information on benefits and aid can be tricky. In California, the Employment Development Department is the key point of contact. For those unsure of how to get a hold of EDD it can seem daunting, but there are resources available. For instance, websites such as eddcaller.com provide a host of valuable information including contact details, the process to get through to the correct department, and techniques for reaching a live person for help. It’s recommended that affected Ford workers, or anyone needing to understand California unemployment benefits, reach out to the EDD through these channels.