Rock Island Arsenal offers early retirement

The employees work at the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing & Technology Center. That center currently employs about 1,500 people.

Center spokesman Rhys Fullerlove says the workers have until Feb. 5 to accept the offer. It involves a lump sum payment of up to $25,000. He declined to say how many applications have been received so far.

Fullerlove says the retirement offers are designed to put the manufacturing and technology center in a good position during a time of decreased defense spending.