photo courtesy of Patti Marine
Patti Marine Shipyard awarded nearly $450K grant by Kaitlyn Peacock
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ne of Pensacola’s proudest and most iconic companies Patti Marine Enterprises was recently award a $449,231 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MarAd). This grant was given as part of $20 million given to support small shipyards throughout the United States. Patti Marine was one of 29 awarded the grant. During a press conference in August, President of Patti Marine Enterprises Frank Patti Jr., Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward and other community leaders gathered to announce the news. The grant is expected to lead to more maritime economic opportunities and eventually will help to expand operations at the Port of Pensacola. “Small businesses are what make America great,” Hayward said. “The ship building business contributes to 400,000 jobs in America and $37 billion to the GDP. And we’re doing it right here, in America’s first settlement.” To be eligible for the grant, the shipyard had to have less than 1,200 production employees and had to file for grant based on their needs. The grant was awarded to help pay for a plasma cutting machine and an iron worker. Previously, the shipyard has applied for other grants and has been turned down. “It’s a very competitive grant process, so for them to be selected and chosen also goes back into the federal government’s comfort level that
“One of the things that we as a community must be very supportive of is diversifying our economy.” they are investing into a good company, and a good operation with expansion potential,” CEO of FloridaWest Economic Development alliance Scott Luth said. FloridaWest worked with the shipyard to send support letters and reach out to congressional representatives to promote their request for the grant. Luth said that supporting the shipyard helps to encourage economic growth in different sectors of Pensacola. “One of the things that we as a community must be very supportive of is diversifying our economy,” he said. “And so when we look at the different industry sectors that we have, our historic maritime presence in the community is obviously something we want to continue to see invested in. That’s what’s going to continue to make us a more healthy economy.”
While the grant money will go toward the new equipment for the shipyard, it will also lead to increased productivity and jobs. With the winter season typically busy for the shipyard, the grant comes at a good time, and Patti is hoping it will lead to an even busier season. “This is about production,” he said. “This is so we can be more competitive. This is so we can bring more jobs to the area.” Currently, the shipyard can build and repair 10,000-ton vessels, but Patti is hopeful that the money will allow them to expand their facility to build even larger ships, and to work on them at an increased pace.
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