| Senator Patty Murray announced that SAFE Boats International (SBI), of Port Orchard, will receive $579,084 in federal support from the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration’s Assistance to Small Shipyards Grant Program. The grant money will go to purchasing two new router tables, a CNC Machining Center, a lathe and upgrades to the Information Technology systems.
Senator Murray, along with Senator Maria Cantwell and Congressman Norm Dicks, were instrumental in obtaining the grant money in the budget in last year’s Congressional session. “I’m thrilled that SBI will get the financial boost to help them make vital capital improvements,” Murray said. “Our small shipyards are a critical piece of the Puget Sound economy. Especially while our economy is struggling, this grant is important to help our domestic shipbuilding industry stay strong and competitive.”
“The capital infusion from the Federal Government comes at a critical time for us. We are bursting at the seams and the additional equipment will help us provide our government customers more timely delivery and the ability to fill more orders,” Scott Peterson, president of SBI stated. SBI will need to match the grant with a 25 percent investment from the company.
SBI has grown to 260 employees and continues to expand its manufacturing facilities out at the Port of Bremerton Industrial Park. The new equipment will allow them to increase the number of larger boats being built along with providing backup capabilities in case the current equipment needs to be serviced.
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