Minneapolis defense contractor moves closer to the money

Despite shrinking federal budgets, government contractors still want to be as close as possible to those tightening federal purse strings, as shown by the latest corporate move into Northern Virginia.

ATK Inc., an aerospace and defense contractor that has been based in Minneapolis, will relocate its corporate headquarters to Arlington, Va., on Oct. 1, by expanding its existing office space there, the company said in an announcement Sept. 8.

ATK currently employs approximately 3,500 people in the Mid-Atlantic region, where it operates facilities in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

The company employs approximately 2,700 people in Minnesota, and it plans to maintain a strong presence there, including approximately 210 corporate employees.

"The relocation of ATK's headquarters to the Washington, D.C., area will provide our company with opportunities for increased engagement with our customers and Congress, as well as with our aerospace and defense industry peers that already are located in the region,” Mark DeYoung, ATK president and CEO, said in the announcement.

ATK is a Fortune 500 international aerospace, defense and commercial products company with operations in 22 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. It has revenues of approximately $4.8 billion.