The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) yesterday announced the availability of $19.6 million in Federal funding for U.S. shipyards through the Small Shipyard Grant Program.
The grants, which are limited to no more than 75% of the estimated improvement costs, are available to U.S. shipyards with fewer than 1,200 production employees.
Since its inception in 2008, the Small Shipyard Grant Program has awarded more than $243 million through 268 grants to assist U.S. shipyards and their workers reap the benefits of increased production capabilities.
The Small Shipyard Grant Program supports a variety of projects including capital and related improvements, and equipment upgrades that foster ship construction, repair, and reconfiguration in small shipyards across the United States. The grants also can be used to support maritime training programs that improve technical skills to enhance shipyard worker efficiency and productivity.
“America’s shipyards are a vital foundation for both our national security and our nation’s economy. U.S.-Flag commercial vessels—built and maintained right here in the U.S.—carry not only military equipment and supplies, but many carry commercial goods in both contiguous and non-contiguous trade,” said Doug Burnett, who is the MARAD Chief Counsel and is acting in lieu of the Maritime Administrator.
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