USA: MetalCraft Marine to Receive Federal Grant Through Assistance to Small Shipyards Program ?

Visiting MetalCraft Marine in Cape Vincent, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the federal government to approve the company’s request for a grant that could help the manufacturer double its workforce and expand its manufacturing operation in Jefferson County.

Schumer is pushing to secure nearly $800,000 in federal grants through the Assistance to Small Shipyards grant program that would be used to renovate and repurpose approximately 9,000 square feet of space to be used for boat manufacturing. With this help, the company could double its workforce over the next year as it produces additional high speed fire and rescue, patrol, and other work boats in the coming months. Schumer is strongly supporting the application as securing the federal assistance is a key part of the company’s growth strategy.

“For years, MetalCraft Marine has worked to build a name for itself in Jefferson County as a major player in the North American commercial boat industry, and has gone to work in New York to build top-of-the line boats for our Navy, the New York State Pilots Association and beyond,” said Schumer. “Their hard work and delivery of a top-rate product has paid off, and now they have plans to move and expand into a new facility in Cape Vincent to better accommodate needs and double their workforce in Jefferson County, by hiring highly-skilled metal workers, technicians and more. That is why I’m urging the Maritime Administration to select this first-rate boat producer for a Small Shipyard Grant, because it is critical to reward MetalCraft Marine’s pursuit of excellence and their plans to create jobs, with the means to make their new operations a success from coast to coast.”

Schumer toured the manufacturing facility and was joined by MetalCraft’s owner, Tom Roe and other management officials as he pushed for a federal investment that would allow MetalCraft Marine Inc. in Jefferson County to renovate its boat production facility and double its number of employees in the next year. Schumer specifically called on the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation to reward MetalCraft Marine U.S. Inc. with $800,000 from the Assistance to Small Shipyard Grant Program. This year, the program has made $9,980,000 available for qualified shipyard facilities that need capital and related improvements. Qualified recipients will use the grant funds for ship construction, streamlining production and competitive operations. Eligible applicants for this grant must not employ more than 1,200 production employees.

MetalCraft Marine Inc. was established in 1987 and the company began its work in the patrol and workboat market. MetalCraft was readily accepted in the commercial marketplace and began to work closely with key government procurement agencies. Since that time, MetalCraft has carved a name for itself in the North American commercial boat industry, particularly in the designing and building of high speed patrol and search & rescue boats. MetalCraft’s boats have been used by the U.S. Navy for the Force Protection Program and have served in the War on Iraq. MetalCraft focuses its mission on providing a high-quality product with an extensive warranty promise at competitive costs.

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Source: schumer.senate, February 28, 2012