Another area business is laying off workers.

About 70 employees at Cardinal IG in Tomah were told this week the company is cutting their jobs in the coming weeks. About 330 people work at the plant. The company makes insulating glass for windows and doors at its Tomah facility.

Cardinal says the downturn in the housing market led to less demand for its glass over the last two years, but workers could be recalled if demand increases.

The company says employees at the Menomonie plant and the Amery plant will not be affected.

Here's the full statement from the company:

Cardinal IG is a manufacturer of insulating glass units for the residential and light commercial window and door market. Cardinal IG customers include most of the national window and door fabricators, several of which are serviced out of the Tomah IG operation.

The Tomah IG operation is one of 10 operations nationally that comprise the Cardinal IG company. The Tomah IG business began in 1988 and currently employs approximately 330 people from Tomah and the surrounding area. Over the last two plus years the Tomah IG demand for insulating glass units used in windows and doors has dropped approximately 40%.

Periodic slowdowns and seasonal adjustments in demand are dealt with through a variety of measures. After exhausting all efforts to avoid a workforce reduction the last two years, the point was reached to have to take further action. The recent housing bubble and credit and financial troubles that have dramatically impacted the residential housing construction market on a national level have significantly reduced demand for insulating glass units.

Employees who are kept abreast of business trends and information with periodic meetings at the Tomah IG operation were informed this week of the reduction of approximately 70 positions in the coming weeks with the possibility of being recalled as demand dictates.