The US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced $19.6 million in grants to help capital improvements at 28 US small shipyards as a part of its Small Shipyard Grant program.
Provided through MARAD’s Small Shipyards Grant program, the funding supports employee training and related improvements that adopt increased efficiency and economic growth.
In 2013, US shipbuilders produced $37.3 billion in gross domestic product. Typically family-owned and employing no more than 1,200 workers, small shipyards play a vital role in US’s economy. Supporting more than 400,000 jobs, they create employment opportunities for working families and small communities.
This is an opinion that Maritime Administrator Mark. H. Buzby seems to foster, saying that:
Small shipyards are an irreplaceable aspect of America’s shipbuilding industry. They are a key component to national security and our economic viability as a whole; providing good jobs for hardworking Americans
Since 2008, MARAD’s Small Shipyard Grant Program has granted more than $226 million for 216 grants. These grants fund upgrades and expansions that create more competitive operations, quality ship construction and improved employee skill.
The grants were given to the following shipyards:
- All American Marine, located in Bellingham, WA, will be awarded $397,725;
- Biblia, Inc., located in Savannah, GA, will received $1,319,414 in funding;
- Detyens Shipyards, Inc., of Charleston, SC, will be awarded $781,315;
- East Coast Repair & Fabrication, LLC, located in Norfolk, VA, will receive $860,000 in funding;
- Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (Nelson Street), located in Panama City, FL, will receive $640,618 in funding;
- Heartland Fabrication, LLC, located in Brownsville, PA, will be awarded $1,008,000 in funding;
- Hughes Bros., Inc., located in Edison, NJ, will receive $363,957 in funding;
- J. Goodison Company, Inc., located in Kingstown, RI, will receive $518,538;
- JAG Alaska, Inc. Seward Shipyard, located in Seward, AK, will be awarded $976,298;
- LaShip, located in Houma, LA, will receive an award of $402,900;
- Marinette Marine Corporation, located in Marinette, WI, will receive an award of $1,100,000;
- MBLH Marine LLC dba Vessel Repair, located in Port Arthur, TX, will receive $1,360,531 in funding;
- Mike’s Inc., is located in South Roxana, IL and will receive $709,405;
- Moose Boats, located in Vallejo, CA, will receive $555,429 in funding;
- Moran Iron Works, Inc., is located in Onaway, MI and will receive $564,300 in funding;
- Norseman Shipbuilding and Boatyard, LLC., located in Miami, FL will receive $255,131 in funding;
- Northern Enterprises Boat Yard, Inc., is located in Homer, AK and will receive $604,053 in grants;
- Paducah Barge, LLC of Paducah, KY, will receive $700,570 in funding;
- Port Bolivar Marine Service, Inc. located in Port Bolivar, TX will receive $390,451 in funding;
- Port of Toledo of Toledo, OR will receive $261,285 in grants;
- Rhoads Industries, Inc. is located in Philadelphia, PA and will receive $999,250 in awards;
- Rockland Marine Corporation, located in Rockland, ME will receive $351,956 in funding;
- Shark Tech, LLC of Bayou la Batre, AL will receive $511,671 in funding;
- St. John’s Ship Building Inc., located in Palatka, FL will receive $800,000 in funding;
- Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, LLC is located in Lockport, LA and will receive $738,645 in funding;
- TPG Chicago Dry Dock LLC is located in Chicago, IL and will receive $1,200,000 funding;
- VT Halter Marine located in Pascagoula, MS will receive $536,000 in funding;
- Yank Marine Services, LLC located in Dorchester, NJ will receive $692,558 in funding.
