Louisiana Governor Announces Maritime International Moving Production from China to Louisiana
Governor Bobby Jindal says the move will create 90 new jobs in Louisiana
On Tuesday Governor Jindal and Maritime International President David LeBlanc announced that Maritime is moving production from China to Broussard, Louisiana. Parts of the plans include an $8 million manufacturing expansion that will create 90 new direct jobs and 150 indirect jobs in Acadiana.
In a statement released Tuesday, Governor Jindal said, “In the last four years we have made unprecedented gains in our economy by cutting taxes, streamlining government, and reining in spending. Instead of company headquarters moving away, we have seen a growing number of company headquarters relocating to Louisiana. Today, we add a new win to the economic competitiveness scoreboard – and more jobs to our state, which means more opportunities for Louisiana families, and more encouragement to dream bigger and better than ever before, knowing that here in Louisiana, our economy is growing and we aren’t letting up for a second.
“I am proud to announce that Maritime International will expand their facilities here by moving production work from China and creating 90 new, direct jobs over the next three years, along with an estimated 150 permanent, indirect jobs. When I took office, I told you that we would make Louisiana the best place in not just the country, but also the world – to get a great job and raise a family. Today’s announcement is a major step toward that goal.”
Maritime International manufactures mooring systems and fenders for ports and the U.S. Navy, as well as piles, vacuums, tanks and other fabrications for the offshore and oil and gas industries. Production currently taking place in China will move to the St. Martin Parish facility. The $8 million dollar investment will include new robotic welding equipment, and an addition of 30,000 square feet of manufacturing space to its current 65,000 square foot headquarters. The 90 additional jobs will pay an average salary of $57,000 a year.
Construction on the addition on will begin in 2012 and is expected to complete in one year. The construction alone will create an estimated 100 jobs.
“We feel that in order to maintain the benchmark for quality we have set in our industry, this can best be delivered by enhanced control over our manufacturing process,” Maritime International President David LeBlanc said. “The technology is available to accomplish this, and with the support of LED, we are able to bring that technology to our back yard, create quality jobs and supply a superior product made here in Louisiana.”
LED has been investing in Maritime International since 2010 and will provide a performance-based forgivable loan of $900,000 from its Economic Development Loan Opportunity Program. Maritime wil also receive training assistance from FastStart, a workforce development program and will take advantage of Louisiana’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax exemption programs.
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SOURCE: Office of the Governor, State of Louisiana