$19.6M MARAD small shipyard grants

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced the availability of $19.6M in federal funding to support capital improvements and employee training at small private American shipyards. The Small Shipyard Grant Program helps modernize eligible shipyard operations by improving efficiency and fostering quality ship construction, repair and reconfiguration. Private U.S. shipyards build and repair America’s military and commercial fleets and contribute billions of dollars to the nation’s economic growth. In 2013, the private shipbuilding and repair industry supported nearly 400,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide, $37.3 billion in gross domestic product and $25.1 billion in labor income. The grants will be available to shipyards with fewer than 1,200 production employees. The Small grant program supports a variety of projects, including capital and related improvements and maritime training programs to foster technical skills and operational productivity. (Source: Seapower 01/10/20)