I never like to see any businesses closing and moving from Tulsa unless it is by choice.  Rumor has it that MotorGuide, a boat manufacturer in Tulsa, will be closing its doors this fall.  Its parent company could be moving from Wisconsin to Stillwater.  They have built award-winning trolling motors since 2000.  It is reported that they will close their doors on October 30 this year.  Their operations will be consolidated with Atwood Marine Products in Lowell, MI.

The parent company, Mercury Marine, of both Atwood and MotorGuide has been restructuring its operations worldwide as a result of declining sales brought on by the recession.  Some say Mercury Marine is considering moving all or part of its Fond du Lac operations to its sterndrive plant in Stillwater.  The Oklahoma Legislature, earlier this year, granted the Stillwater plant’s request to delay payment of penalties resulting from its failure to meet requirements of the Quality Job Program.

Mercury Marine is likely to close either the Stillwater or Fond du Lac plants.  The Brunswick Corporation acquired MotorGuide in 1984 as part of Tulsa-based Zebco which owns Mercury Marine.  It moved MotorGuide manufacturing from Mississippi to Tulsa in 2000.

Take a look at www.directoryoftulsa.com for other local businesses in the area.