MILLVILLE AIRPORT 100th CCH_2250.jpg
File photo of a ceremony celebrating the delivery of the 100th modified CH-47F Chinook helicopter held at the Millville Municipal Airport in Millville. (File photo)
MILLVILLE — With its three-year contract with the U.S. Army to modify Chinook helicopters finished, Boeing is laying off 30 people from its Millville Modification Center.
The employees have been notified by Boeing, according to spokesman Paul Guse, and the employees will receive severance packages and help finding placement.
"We are reducing our workforce, which we commonly do when a contract is drawing down," Guse said.
Boeing entered into a $43-million contract with the Army three years ago to modify CH-47F Chinook helicopters at the Millville Modification Center at the Millville Municipal Airport.
The helicopters themselves are built in Philadelphia and then brought to Millville for specific Army modifications.
In 2012, the facility dedicated its 100th Chinook helicopter.
The 30 layoffs is another blow for Millville, after Gerresheimer Glass Inc. lost 115 employees earlier this month.
An exact number of employees at the Millville facility could not be provided but, according to Guse, Boeing employs 180 people in New Jersey.
"It's another group of people in Millville without jobs," said Mayor Michael Santiago. "It's not good for us.
"It makes the holidays difficult for anyone."
Although Boeing is laying off 30 employees, according to Guse, the facility is staying in Millville and the Chicago-based aeronautic company is looking for additional contracts for the site.
According to Jim Salmon, spokesman for the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), Boeing representatives have not notified the authority that the company is leaving Millville, which the company is required to do per its lease with the DRBA, which operates the Millville Airport.
Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@southjerseymedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.