Contract helps keep shipbuilder afloat

Good news for the area. It appears Marinette Marine is in the process of securing a U.S. Navy contract to build 10 ships for the U.S. Navy. The projection is the contract will create 1,000 new jobs at the shipbuilding facility. Although the move still has to be approved by Congress, indications are it has support. The addition of 1,000 jobs is fantastic news for the entire area. The economic impact of this development doesn’t stop at the Wisconsin-Michigan border. Many people from the U.P. work at Marinette Marine — and that number is likely to increase. The key to this good news is compromise. Initially, there was a fight as to whether the contract would go to Marinette Marine or a shipbuilder based in Alabama. Essentially, the contract will be split down the middle with each facility to build 10 ships. It is a fair solution, and one that will benefit both areas. It is a win-win situation.