Pomona : Future of General Dynamics

The future of the General Dynamics plant in Pomona may be decided within six to eight weeks, company Vice President David L. McPherson said Wednesday.

McPherson told the Pomona Economic Development Corp. at its annual meeting Wednesday at the Sheraton Suites Fairplex Hotel that financial considerations will determine whether the local plant or a similar Hughes Aircraft facility in Tucson will become the production center after Hughes completes its acquisition of General Dynamics’ missile operations in Southern California.

Until financial studies are finished, he said, “I can’t tell you whether the activity in Pomona will be continued or not.”

General Dynamics, which employed 11,000 workers in its Pomona division--including a Rancho Cucamonga plant--seven years ago, will have reduced its local work force to 4,600 by the end of this year.