Lockheed Closure 'Terrible' For Community, Residents Say

Thursday’s announcement that Lockheed Martin will close its Newtown facility by mid-2015 will have a negative ripple effect throughout the Bucks County region, officials and residents say.

Lawmakers say they are hope to minimize the impact to families who will be affected by the closure. 

Lockheed Martin announced Thursday that the local facility, which employs 1,050 people, will be closing. As a result, the company plans to lay off 800 of those employees. The process will be phased over 12 to 18 months, the company said.

State Rep. Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks) wants Lockheed Martin to reconsider its decision.

“The decision to shutter the Newtown facility will have a ripple effect through our neighborhoods so I am calling on my colleagues on the local, state and federal level to begin working together immediately to explore any possibilities of reversing this decision,” Santarsiero said. 

“If that isn’t successful, to support a transition for the families impacted while also securing replacement industry to sustain our local economy," Santarsiero said.

Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-8) called the news “incredibly disappointing.”  He said he has been in touch with representatives from the company.

“I intend to do whatever I can to help these families chart their future,” Fitzpatrick said. “The highly-skilled workers at the Newtown facility are focused on the cutting-edge technology our nation needs to stay a global leader. 

The company said the measures are being taken to improve the affordability of its products and services. “These actions are in response to continued declines in U.S. government spending,” the company said in a statement.

Patch readers responded to the news with shock and disappointment.

“This is terrible news for the community,” one Patch reader wrote on Facebook.

"Oh gosh, so heartbreaking. This is terrible news," another wrote.

Others said, while disappointing, the news isn't shocking.

“No one really to blame here. If we truly want a smaller federal government that lives within its means, we need to continue cutting spending like we are. Unfortunately, private companies that rely solely or mostly on government funding will have to downsize or close, and there is an impact to that,” wrote another Patch user who commented on the story.