Harris Applauds $830K Grant to Eastern Shore Shipyard

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced the award of a $830,622 federal grant to Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corporation in Salisbury. Funding is being provided by the Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD) Small Shipyard Grant Program. This program is designed to support small shipyard projects that make capital and related improvements or provide training for workers in shipbuilding, ship repair, and associated industries. Grants are capped at 75 percent of the project's estimated cost and are available to facilities with fewer than 1,200 production employees. Chesapeake Shipbuilding will use the funding to purchase a 130-ton rough terrain crane to enable the increased use of modular construction and pre-outfitting and eliminate bottlenecks.

With the assistance of several MARAD Small Shipyard Grants, the shipyard has acquired new equipment, enhanced engineering capabilities for modular and pre-outfit design, trained employees and made improvements to the ship construction buildings.

There has been a shipyard at this location for more than 150 years.

Congressman Harris supported the grant application to MARAD, and made the following statement on the award:

“I support our Eastern Shore small businesses and the many local communities they serve. Chesapeake Shipbuilding is a great company and employer in the greater Salisbury region, supporting both the maritime industry and providing many jobs to local families. I have supported these grant applications, and I am proud to see this local employer increase productivity, efficiency and the shipyard’s ability to compete in the shipbuilding industry. I will continue to work in support of the economy and jobs on the Eastern Shore, and I applaud MARAD for selecting Chesapeake Shipbuilding for this award.”