NORWICH – News that Esterline, a Washington State-based producer of aerospace and defense components, will cease operations at its facility in the City of Norwich has community leaders searching for ways to keep the manufacturer local.

Esterline announced last plans to close its Norwich division, Norwich Aero Products, by the end of the first quarter of 2015. According to a statement from Esterline, all U.S. production, currently undertaken at the 57,000 square foot Norwich facility on O’Hara Drive, will be relocated to its existing manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico. The company has plans to transfer some administrative functions to its sister company in Buena Park, Calif.

Norwich Aero Products employees were notified of the closure last Wednesday. The manufacturer currently supplies approximately 120 local jobs.

Esterline’s official announcement came without warning, said City of Norwich Mayor Joseph Maiurano. Word of the plant’s closing reached local officials just last week.

Maiurano said he is currently working with federal and state legislators including Governor Andrew Cuomo, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Richard Hanna, State Assemblyman Clifford Crouch and State Senator Tom Libous to take measures that might entice Esterline to keep its Norwich branch open.

Said Maiurano, “We always stay a little bit positive and at this point, we are going to try to do everything possible to take action. It can’t just be a Band-Aid solution.”