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25 to approve Lilly's $2.3 billion buyout, Lilly indicated nearly all of the local employees could be jobless by March.

Donna Thompson of the Employment Security Department in Everett admitted her agency thought the layoffs would come "more in one big lump." So far, employment staff have helped about 100 former ICOS workers with job counseling services, and they are passing along leads to a private job placement firm working with ICOS.

At the contract manufacturing facility, the majority of staff could stay on until previous commitments to customers are fulfilled near the end of this year, Belt said.

In the meantime, Lilly hopes to find a buyer for that operation.

"It is still our intent to sell the manufacturing facility, and we hope that this is done in such a way that a buyer would keep it as an ongoing business," Belt said.

"We have no specific update to provide on the progress of the efforts to find a buyer." Matt Smith, vice president of the Snohomish County Economic Development Council, said he's offered his assistance to Lilly in that effort.

He said Lilly seems serious in keeping the operation going under a new owner.

"They realize the longer it is until they sell it, the more talent they'll lose there, so it's in their interest to find a buyer sooner rather than later," Smith said.

Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.

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