Aerospace Firm Moving Offices to Simi : Business: Whittaker Corp. already has 450 workers at local plant. City officials say headquarters transfer will help community’s image.

A major defense and aerospace contractor announced Thursday that it would move its national headquarters from Los Angeles to Simi Valley this summer.

Whittaker Corp. officials said 25 executives and staff will move Aug. 1 from Westwood to the firm’s 10-acre plant at Los Angeles and Surveyor avenues. The Simi Valley plant already employs 450 of the company’s 1,000 workers.

“We can put a whole lot of money into research and development that we are giving the landlord,” Chief Executive Officer Tom Brancati said.

City officials said the relocation means more to Simi Valley than the 25 jobs. The transfer of a $127-million-a-year company traded on the New York Stock Exchange will bolster the city’s image and help with business recruiting, officials said.

“I think the fact that a major corporation wants to relocate here makes a good statement for the city,” said Don Penman, assistant city manager in charge of economic development.

Penman said Ventura County in general, and Simi Valley in particular, can expect more relocations as corporations based in Los Angeles look to cut costs and work more closely with local government officials.

“It is cheaper to do business here,” Penman said. “And they can call the mayor or the city manager and get an immediate response.”

The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce had a similar response.

“I certainly think it is prestigious that they have chosen Simi Valley,” Chamber President Ron Meek said.

And Mayor Greg Stratton praised the move.

“The fact that a company of Whittaker’s stature has decided to relocate their corporate headquarters to Simi Valley and increase their presence here is very exciting for everyone,” Stratton said in a news release.

Whittaker manufactures fuel valves and safety systems for virtually all airplanes and jet engines made in the United States, Brancati said.

Whittaker first moved to Simi Valley in 1984 and manufacturers electronic devices there. Brancati said the company has hired two local contractors and will spend about $1 million renovating one of its three Simi Valley buildings for corporate suites.

Brancati, 59, said the company is moving away from defense electronic products and into telecommunication processing equipment.

“We spent $20 million on telecommunications last year,” he said.

Brancati said Whittaker reported sales of $127 million last year and a net income of $10.6 million, up from $9.3 million in 1993.