Feb 21, 2006- Kaptur Supports Great Lakes Shipbuilding Jobs in Toledo; Effort Brings Home Millions
Toledo,Ohio- Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) today announced that she has successfullygarnered federal support totaling $7.5 million dollars to return shipbuildingand repair jobs to the Toledo Shipyard. Kaptur made the announcement asthe Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority reached agreement for a new, locallyowned firm to operate the historic shipyard following the departure of theManitowoc Company last year. Manitowoc'sdeparture left the shipyard idle.
"Today, we join hands with our new partner, Ironhead Marine, Inc. as ourcommunity makes an investment in new jobs through economic development on ourGreat Lakes, right here in the Port of Toledo," said Kaptur. "Tocommercial shippers and mariners, this is especially good news as Toledo becomes the only operating full serviceshipyard on the lower Great Lakes."
Kaptur, a member of the influential House Defense AppropriationsSubcommittee, delivered the news of an additional investment of $4 millionwhich she successfully included in the Defense Appropriations bill earlier thisyear. The new funds, coupled with $3.5 million dollars secured by Kapturin the 2002 and 2003 Department of Defense and Housing and Urban Developmentfunding bills, brings the total federal investment to $7.5 million dollars andwill allow the Port Authority to move forward with plans to construct a new"high-bay" facility on its EastToledo shipyard property. The funds will alsoallow for significant renovations to existing facilities there, creating asmany as 150 construction jobs and 200 new shipbuilding jobs in 2006 and2007. When completed, the high bay facility will allow for all seasonconstruction and ship repair on the site making it one of the most advancedsuch sites on the Great Lakes.
Federal funding will comprise nearly 70% of the first phase of constructionand renovations. LucasCountyand the City of Toledo have alsocommitted $1 million and $1.5 million respectively for the high bayconstruction project.
"This great announcement of new jobs and a new business partner at the Toledo Portwill translate into millions of dollars for construction and shipbuilding jobshere at our historic shipyard," said Kaptur. "Placing emphasis on"winterizing" our shipbuilding capabilities with an enclosed high bay facilitymakes our shipyard a year round destination for ship repair and shipbuildingagain. This giant step forward holds the potential to trigger the rebirth ofnew shipbuilding and vessel repairs capacity on the Great Lakes, centered at Toledo, the crossroads of the Great Lakes."
Kaptur concluded with remarks about a Bush Administration approved proposalto put the operation of several major U.S. ports in the hands of a Dubai basedcorporation adding, "As Americans witness with alarm the BushAdministration approval of the operations of strategic U.S. ports in our nationto Dubai Ports World -- a move which I oppose and will fight to overturn inCongress -- our investment here in U.S. shipbuilding capability to underpineconomic and national security becomes even more important. The GreatLakes is America's4th, and longest, seacoast. As America struggles to regaina firmer foothold in shipbuilding and shipping with other sea lanes like the Panama Canal and the Pacific looming asheavyweight, global competitors, it is incumbent upon us to do what we can tosecure capability here."