SACO, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- General Dynamics has announced it is laying off 110 workers later this year at its facility in Saco.

Karl Johnson, a spokesperson for General Dynamics' Armament and Technical Products division, said the company has notified the employees about the layoffs which are set to go into effect between June 14 and July 1.

Johnson said the primary reason for the layoffs is the sharp decline in U.S. Army demand for heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers as the military withdraws troops from Afghanistan and Iraq.

The layoffs include both salaried and hourly positions, and they are all involved with the production of the heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers.

Saco Mayor Mark Johnston said company management contacted him Thursday morning about the layoffs, and he said the news is difficult to take for a community that has been hit hard with job losses over the last year.

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