Huge layoffs continue to hit Dayton-area economy

The Crowne Plaza hotel in downtown Dayton laid off about 130 workers last month, the hotel said. And the Marriott at the University of Dayton off South Patterson Boulevard reported laying off 160 workers.

A host of other business have been impacted, too. The Cinepolis theater in Austin Landing, 10251 Penny Lane, Miami Twp., is laying off 42 workers.

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And another manufacturer in Sidney is laying off 210 workers, again according to a WARN notice to the state. Add to that another 233 layoffs by Deceuninck North America in Monroe.

In total, that amounts to 775 layoffs reported in the Dayton area by noon.

That likely doesn't cover all of the ongoing economic damage. Most small businesses aren't required to offer WARN notices.

ODJFS has been deluged with massive numbers of unemployment claims and other inquiries, and the department's web site was down for a time Wednesday. "We apologize for the inconvenience and we're working as fast as we can to resolve this issue," the department tweeted at about noon. "Thank you for your continued patience. #InThisTogetherOhio #EveryClaimIsImportant"

The Dayton Crowne Plaza layoffs are permanent, “although laid off employees may apply for any open and available positions when circumstances due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic change,” Crowne Plaza General Manager Kristina Davis said in her March 16 letter to the state. “However, it is not currently known when this may occur or when the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic will subside.”

Crowne Plaza in Columbus laid off 103 workers there in a letter made public April 3.

Steven Keith, human resources director at the Marriott at the University of Dayton, also cited the pandemic as the reason behind the layoffs in his letter to the state, a letter dated Tuesday.

Those layoffs started March 20 and Keith called them “temporary until which time the employees will be called back to work.”

“However,” Keith added, “it is not currently known when this might occur or when the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic will subside.”

Advanced Composites in Sidney termed its layoffs “temporary,” in a letter from human resources manager Donna Barnes.

The first layoffs were to begin Monday and are expected to last less than six months, Barnes wrote.