Wisconsin Shipyards Awarded Nearly $2 Mln in Grants
Wisconsin shipyards Bay Shipbuilding and Fraser Shipyards have been awarded nearly $2 million in 2018 Small Shipyard Grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today.
The Small Shipyard Grant Program helps small shipyards, like Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay and Fraser Shipyards in Superior, repair and modernize equipment, and train workers.
“In Wisconsin, and across America, small shipyards are considered the lifeblood of the maritime economy. I am proud to have secured these critical investments to support our Made in Wisconsin economy and a workforce that is second to none,” said Senator Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and longtime supporter of the Small Shipyard Grant Program. “These grants will allow Bay Shipbuilding and Fraser Shipyards to expand opportunities for employees, invest in capital improvements and remain competitive in the global maritime industry.”
“Bay Shipbuilding is thrilled to receive a Small Shipyard Grant that will allow us to be more efficient and offer the most competitive services possible. We thank Senator Baldwin for her commitment to shipyards and for helping secure this investment as we continue to do our part in sustaining the Great Lakes fleet and Jones Act shipbuilding industry for our customers,” said Francesco Valente, President and CEO of Bay Shipbuilding.
“Fraser Shipyards is very pleased to be receiving a MARAD grant. We are particularly pleased with Senator Baldwin‘s leadership and support of the maritime industry and our Wisconsin business. We look forward to the productivity gains we will garner with the new materials handling equipment,” said James Farkas, President and Chief Operating Officer of Fraser Shipyards.
President Trump’s proposed Fiscal Year 2019 budget would have eliminated the program. Senator Baldwin led the Senate Appropriations Committee in rejecting that budget and including $20 million for the Small Shipyard Grant Program in the FY19 THUD Senate Appropriations bill.
Last year, Senators Baldwin and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced the Small Shipyards and Maritime Communities Act to reauthorize the Small Shipyard Grant Program through 2020. The bipartisan legislation was signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018.