Mobile shipyard Blakeley BoatWorks is among the recipients of $19.6 million disbursed to small shipyards by a federal grant program.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration announced Friday that 24 small shipyards in 19 states had received grants through its Small Shipyard Grant Program. The funds are intended to “help awardees modernize, increase productivity, and expand local employment opportunities while competing in the global marketplace.”
Blakeley BoatWorks, part of the Mobile-based Cooper Group of Companies, will receive $722,460 “to support the purchase of major components of metal working equipment consisting of welding machines and a variety of material handling equipment.”
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy, and small shipyards play a critical role in America’s maritime industry, helping us get the goods we depend on every day,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in the grant announcement. “These grants will help modernize small shipyards in communities across the country, creating and protecting local jobs, strengthening America’s maritime industry, and securing our economic future.”
Recipients include ST Engineering Halter Marine and Offshore Inc. in Pascagoula, which received $1,154,670 to support the purchase of a “green” blast and paint booth, and Patti Marine Enterprises in Pensacola, which received $1.2 million to construct an 800-ton drydock. A full list of recipients can be found at www.maritime.dot.gov.
