As the United States prepares to undergo a shipbuilding revival, Erie finds itself as a potential major player in this moment.
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan bluntly delivered a call to action at the Economic Club of Detroit stating, “Our Navy doesn’t get a second chance to be ready.”
With Erie’s position on the Great Lakes, a legacy of shipbuilding dating back to the War of 1812 our history as a great American manufacturing community, the Manufacturer & Business Association endorses Gem City Shipbuilding’s (GCS) initiative to bring a naval shipyard to Erie’s waterfront.
FAMILY-SUSTAINING JOBS
The most glaring benefit for Erie from this initiative is job creation across multiple industries.
A naval shipyard in Erie would have the potential to bring 1,000-plus jobs directly to Erie. Nearly every major skilled industrial trade would be required for operation. In Maine, Bath Iron Works employs more than 6,000 people with the average salary of $66,376, which is substantially above Erie’s median household income. In Marinette, Wisconsin, Fincantieri Marine employs more than 2,000 people at the shipyard and supports significant employment across Wisconsin.
In January, the Delaware County Community College received $8 million to advance its workforce development programs in support of Philadelphia’s shipbuilding renaissance. In Mobile, Alabama and other Gulf Coast locales, significant investment is being made in Maritime Training Centers, further enhancing the shipbuilding and broader manufacturing industries. GCS would bring similar demand to Erie’s vocational and secondary institutions.
Additionally, with the increasing development of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), GCS could provide Erie with an industry at the forefront of advanced robotics and autonomous systems. This could provide Erie a catalyst for future advanced technology manufacturing by bolstering a workforce capable of building and operating advanced systems.
BROWNFIELD TO BATTLESHIPS
The clean-up and restoration required at the former Erie Coke location before any development or use of any kind will take a considerable amount of government and private support. The construction of a naval shipbuilding facility would provide an immediate mandate to the most realistic and timely solution, to reverse the decades of lakefront decay. This is a win-win for our community, the environment and our economy.
Remediation would be conducted in full-compliance of Pennsylvania’s DEP ‘Act 2’ standards, which clearly lay-out uniform environmental standards. In operation, the shipbuilding industry is mandated to comply with EPA industry standards under NAICS 3336, which regulates all shipyard operations. Additionally, the naval shipbuilding industry has begun implementing multiple sustainability efforts to include emissions-reducing technology, waste water recycling and low-carbon material sourcing.
BUILDING A MARITIME ECONOMY
A 21st century naval vessel is a large and sophisticated machine. It’s filled with thousands of intricate parts, pumps, doors, motors, engines, shafts, computers, air conditioners, plumbing, piping and advanced combat systems. With such high-level complexity, for a future naval shipyard to succeed in Erie, it will rely on the robust industrial and manufacturing community present in Northwest PA.
A naval shipyard would open the door large-scale regional economic growth. From partnerships with forgeries on marine shafting, working with a local shipyard for modular construction, establishment of partnership with local trade unions, collaboration with Erie County Community College and secondary institutions on workforce development; the opportunity this initiative presents to Erie cannot be overstated. For every one shipyard job, 2.7 jobs downstream are associated in supply, logistics, training and other support industries.
This will be an economic anchor for Erie. A galvanizing regional force, acting as a complement and providing consistent demand to the existing Erie maritime and manufacturing business and labor communities.
This opportunity won’t last forever. As other waterfront communities maneuver to capitalize, we at The MBA strongly encourage Erie, our elected officials, and our business and community leaders to do the same and meet this unique, generational moment.
Jezree Friend, is vice president at the Manufacturer & Business Association. Contact him at 814/833-3200, 800/815-2660 or jfriend@mbausa.org.
