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Folsom hoping to attract more tech jobs after Intel layoffs

Last week, Intel announced they were laying off 12,000 employees worldwide, about 11 percent of their workforce.

Last week, Intel announced they were laying off 12,000 employees worldwide, about 11 percent of their workforce.

On Monday employees at the Folsom Intel office received letters that 269 people would be let go.

Joe Gagliardi, the CEO of Folsom's Chamber of Commerce thinks, the ultimate impact is minimal. However, there is concern for the people losing their jobs. Gagliardi hopes those soon-to-be former Intel employees will stay in Folsom and get new jobs in the growing local tech industry.

"[We have] several tech firms from software to hardware, Intel obviously being the flagship. [But] there's Micron, Toshiba recently located here," Gagliardi said. "A lot of companies are starting to grow bigger here in the community that'll help augment not only what Intel does but provide alternatives.

Bringing new businesses and jobs to the Folsom area is a focus of the Choose Folsom marketing campaign.

About a half-mile away from Intel, some restaurants where employees eat may also suffer. Jay Jayarman, the owner of Mylapore, also thinks the impact is minimal. But he says the reason he opened up his South Indian Vegan restaurant at that specific location was because of Intel.

"Intel employees have been very supportive and we owe a lot of success to Intel employees," Jayarman said, explaining that he opened back in 2008 during the recession.

Jayarman even offers free lunch to all Intel employees every July 18, which is the day the company was founded.

"A lot of people who work at Intel are very close to me," Jayarman said. “What worries me is it's just the first phase. Roughly 1500-2000 people of Asian descent, I would say [work at Intel]. At least 1,000 to 1,200 from [India].”

Employees being let go from Folsom's Intel office will be notified by Friday and work through May. The number being laid off is only about 4.5 percent of more than 6,000 employees. Jayarman's concerns could become reality, as Intel has said that some employees may not be notified until mid-2017.

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