One of Bellingham's longest-running manufacturers is closing its doors. EnerSys has filed a WARN notice with the Washington State Employment Security Department confirming the permanent closure of the Alpha Technologies Services facility at 3767 Alpha Way, with 75 workers to be let go beginning August 31, 2026 and the shutdown completed by October 15.
The federal WARN Act requires employers to give workers and the state at least 60 days notice ahead of mass layoffs, so the filing puts firm dates on a closure that ends a Bellingham manufacturing story going back five decades. The notice covers the operations unit, including purchasing, planning, shipping, receiving and production departments.
Five Decades of Power Systems Built in Bellingham
Alpha Technologies began doing business in Bellingham in 1975 and grew into one of the city's signature industrial employers, building power systems and backup power equipment used by cable, telecom and industrial customers around the world. The Alpha Way campus in the Irongate industrial area, the street itself named for the company, has been a fixture of Bellingham's manufacturing base for generations of workers.
In 2018 the company was acquired by EnerSys, a Pennsylvania-based stored energy giant with plants and offices across the globe. Acquisitions of hometown companies often raise the question of how long the hometown operation survives the integration; for Bellingham, the answer turned out to be about eight years.
What the WARN Notice Says, and What It Leaves Open
The WARN filing covers 75 positions, with separations starting August 31 and the facility fully closed by October 15. Notably, a December 2025 employment survey by Western Washington University's Center for Economic and Business Research counted 216 permanent full-time employees at the site. The filing does not explain the gap, which could reflect earlier attrition, transfers to other EnerSys locations, or additional separations outside this notice. The Scoop has not confirmed how many people in total will be affected by the shutdown.
The Bellingham closure also is not an isolated decision. In January 2024, the company announced 77 layoffs in the closure of its Spokane Valley facility, part of a broader consolidation of the former Alpha operations under EnerSys. The pattern will feel familiar to anyone who has watched acquired manufacturers gradually fold satellite operations into the parent company's footprint.
For the workers involved, the WARN window has practical meaning: employees stay on payroll and benefits through their separation dates, which gives roughly two months to line up next steps while still earning. The WARN Act does not require severance, so whatever transition package EnerSys offers beyond the notice period is between the company and its employees. Workers should also expect information about continuing health coverage through COBRA as their separation dates approach.
What It Means for Bellingham's Industrial Base
The Alpha Way campus sits in the Irongate industrial area on Bellingham's north side, the city's largest concentration of manufacturing, fabrication and distribution employers. What happens to the site after October, whether it is sold, leased or absorbed by another industrial user, will be one of the bigger commercial real estate questions in the county this year.
Seventy-five manufacturing jobs is a real dent in a city Bellingham's size, and the loss lands on the industrial park economy that has quietly anchored the city's family-wage employment for decades. The closure comes the same week as better economic news on the waterfront, where the Port of Bellingham landed $23.5 million in federal funding to rebuild its North Pier shipping terminal, a project expected to expand longshore work in the coming years. The two stories together capture a transition: legacy manufacturing contracting while the county bets on trade, maritime and infrastructure to carry the next chapter.
Help for Affected Workers
Workers facing layoff have concrete resources available, and the earlier they engage, the better the options. WorkSource Washington runs rapid response services for WARN-listed closures, including on-site sessions covering unemployment benefits, retraining money and job placement. The Employment Security Department handles unemployment claims, which laid-off workers can file as soon as their separation date arrives.
For workers considering a career change, dislocated-worker retraining funds can cover programs at Bellingham Technical College and Whatcom Community College, both of which have absorbed waves of displaced manufacturing workers before. Local employers in electrical, marine trades and industrial maintenance have historically recruited from Alpha's skilled workforce, and 60 days of notice is enough time to start those conversations before the last paycheck.
The Scoop will follow the closure timeline and any further WARN filings tied to the site. If you work at the Alpha Way facility and have information about the transition, the tip line is always open.
