Lockheed Martin will close Newtown plant

More than 1,000 people will lose their jobs as Lockheed Martin eliminates a facility in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Spokesman Chip Eschenfelder says the satellite-building operation in Bucks County will be shut down by 2015, “Part of a continuing affordability initiative and in response to continued declines in U.S. Government spending.”

“This is part of a corporate-wide action occurring at numerous locations across the country following a strategic review of the corporation’s current facilities capacity and future workload projections,” he said.

In a statement, Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, who represents the area called news of the plant closure “incredibly disappointing,” adding that he “intend[s] to do whatever I can to help these families chart their future.”

About 200 positions will be relocated from Newtown to Colorado. The company is also shrinking facilities in California, Arizona, Ohio and Texas. Some work from Arizona will be moving to Lockheed’s Valley Forge location.

The company had already announced 200 layoffs for a facility in Moorestown, South Jersey, part of a workforce reduction effort.