U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces More Than $1 Million for Wisconsin Shipyard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today announced that Fincantieri Marinette Marine has been awarded a $1.1 million 2019 Small Shipyard Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Baldwin has long supported the Small Shipyard Grant Program that helps small shipyards, like Marinette Marine, repair and modernize equipment, improve efficiency and increase productivity.

“In Wisconsin, and across America, small shipyards are considered the lifeblood of the maritime economy. I am proud to have secured this critical investment to support our Made in Wisconsin economy and a workforce that is second to none,” said Senator Baldwin. “I worked in support of this grant because it will allow Marinette Marine to expand opportunities for workers, invest in capital improvements and remain competitive in the global maritime industry.”

“This grant is a shot in the arm for Marinette's workers and maritime community. It will help the shipyard become even more competitive and capable of building the larger next-generation ships our government customers are looking for. I thank Senator Baldwin for her unwavering support of our project and the future of the shipyard,” said Jan Allman, President, CEO, and General Manager, Fincantieri Marinette Marine.

President Trump’s proposed Fiscal Year 2019 budget would have eliminated this critical 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 that is funding this grant. As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Baldwin led the bipartisan effort to reauthorize the grant program through 2020 and strengthen Buy America requirements to support American businesses, manufacturers and workers.

The Small Shipyard Grant Program provides assistance to small shipyards to make capital improvements and train workers to remain competitive in the global marketplace. The program provides Wisconsin manufacturers with opportunities to sell their products, and because Buy America provisions are applied to grant awards, the program supports American-made equipment and good-paying jobs.