Northrop picks Virginia as new headquarters

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Northrop Grumman Corp. will announce on Tuesday that it has chosen Northern Virginia as its new corporate headquarters, beating out Maryland and the District of Columbia, according to the Washington Business Journal. The paper cited economic development sources involved in the negotiations.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, is expected to make the announcement but will not disclose a specific site, the sources said.

Among the sites being considered are Fairview Park in Falls Church, a building on North Glebe Road in Arlington and an undeveloped site in Alexandria called Carlyle Plaza One, the paper said.

The Los Angeles-based defense giant’s decision “comes as no surprise to many observers, who felt the inclusion of Maryland on the short list was simply to serve as leverage in the economic development game,” the weekly business newspaper said.

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and Arlington Economic Development declined to comment for the Washington Business Journal, while the Virginia Economic Development Partnership said only that it was still in negotiations with the company.

The paper was unable to reach Northrop officials for comment.

The Northrop Grumman Web site made no mention of the decision or the report.

When the defense contractor announcing its plans to move in January, Northrop said it would mean 100 to 150 new jobs for the Washington area. Northrop will also relocate about one-quarter of its current Los Angeles headquarters staff of 350, the paper said.

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