HOPEWELL JUNCTION – SpectraWatt, Inc., the manufacturer of photovoltaic cells for the solar industry, is set to close its doors at its Hopewell Junction plant on April 4 and the layoffs of its employees have begun.

According to a State Labor Department notice, 117 workers will be laid off and that process began last Monday. Final terminations will take place during the two week period on May 20.

The company has been at the Hudson Valley Research Park, formerly the IBM East Fishkill facility, for about a year. Its entrance into the region was touted at the time as an additional boost for the local economy.  Then, a few months ago, the company announced it would be shutting the plant down due to economic reasons.