The J. Goodison Company shipyard at Quonset has landed a federal grant of 275 thousand dollars to modernize its operations.
The funding will be used to buy a 200-ton press brake and 21 new welder units.
Senator Jack Reed, who fought for the funding said, "“This is good news for J. Goodison and Rhode Island’s maritime industry. Ensuring Rhode Island shipyard’s have the best machinery available to meet their needs increases productivity and efficiency and expands capacity at Quonset. Small shipyards like J. Goodison make big contributions to our economy by building and maintaining the vessels that drive our economy. We’ve got to keep them competitive. I will continue working to bring investment to Rhode Island’s ports, shipbuilders, and shipyards,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee. Senator Reed led efforts to restore funding for the Small Shipyard program after it lapsed for several years."
The federal funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration Small Shipyards Grant program.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News / Getty Images