Northrop HQ search down to three sites

The Ballston area of Arlington, Va., and Fairview Park in Falls Church, Va., are two of the three sites still under consideration for the new headquarters of Northrop Grumman Corp., according to the April 2 Washington Post.

The third site is on Gaither Road in Rockville, Montgomery County, Md., the newspaper reported, citing “several [unidentified] sources in government and real estate.”

The Post quoted Randy Belote, a Northrop spokesman, as saying, “We continue to work with the municipalities to understand the incentive packages that we’ve received, and we’re on schedule to make a decision by the end of the month.”

Belote declined to offer any specifics about the selection process, saying only that it is ongoing.

Northrop Grumman executives have said they would make their decision in April.

Apparently Loudoun County, Va., and Washington, D.C., no longer are under consideration for the giant defense contractor’s new headquarters, which would replace its longtime Los Angeles base.

According to the Post, small-business owners in D.C. complained about the $25 million in tax breaks and grants that the company was being offered.

Northrop announced the planned relocation on Jan. 4.

John Northrop, an innovative designer, formed Northrop Aircraft Inc. in Hawthorne, Calif., in 1939. One year later, the company built its first aircraft, the N-3PB patrol bomber, for the Norwegian Air Force.

Northrop Grumman, of Los Angeles, ranks No. 3 on Washington Technology’s 2009 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.