Wednesday, Congressman Buck McKeon accompanied Lancaster Vice Mayor Marvin Crist on a tour of Morton Manufacturing’s new facility in Lancaster. The two spent time discussing the prospects of job growth throughout the Antelope Valley region, while reviewing recent successes throughout Lancaster.
“The Antelope Valley, through its decades of contributions to both the aerospace and defense industries, has developed a very skilled and robust workforce,” said Congressman Buck McKeon. “It is great to see such new avenues of opportunity open up to Antelope Valley residents as Lancaster continues to advance in the manufacturing and alternative energy sectors. I am especially happy to see the expansion of this excellent family-owned business. I have known Yolanda Morton for some time and I am proud to see her business continuing to thrive.”
Founded in 1967, Morton Manufacturing specializes in the production of nickel-alloy bolts for gas-turbine aircraft engines. The Morton Manufacturing location in the Lancaster Business Park is a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility which will provide more than 300 jobs to the Antelope Valley, including 130 new positions. Construction of the 88,000 square foot Lancaster facility began in October 2012, and was completed just over a year later in November 2013. The company has already begun transitioning their production operation to the new location.
“It was a pleasure hosting Congressman McKeon and Vice Mayor Crist at our facility,” said Morton Manufacturing Chairman and CEO Yolanda Morton. “This entire relocation and expansion process has been good for both the city and the Antelope Valley region. I’m glad to see our elected officials engaged with their constituents to bring more businesses to the area.”
The firm, whose client list includes such companies as General Electric, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls Royce, began seeking a new location in 2011. With approximately 40 percent of its existing workforce already residing in the Antelope Valley, Morton Manufacturing’s search for a new site quickly led them to Lancaster.
“It was a pleasure meeting with Congressman McKeon on the topic of job creation in the Antelope Valley,” said Vice Mayor Marvin Crist. “We both recognize the necessity of bringing new jobs to the region and are committed to doing so by opening every door we can by utilizing the positions in which we serve.”
