Participating in the announcement were Louisiana Department of Labor Secretary Garey Forster, Louisiana Department of Economic Development Secretary Kevin Reilly, Avondale Industries Chairman, President and CEO Albert L. Bossier, Jr., and several other State officials.

Commenting on the new facility, Governor Foster said, “This is a shot in the arm for northeast Louisiana. This continues to show how important a trained and skilled workforce is to Louisiana’s economic growth.”

Avondale CEO Al Bossier also noted: “I am personally very proud of this project. It will allow Avondale to grow as a company and to prepare the Louisiana workforce to meet the skilled employment challenges of the future.”

Avondale has budgeted nearly $2 million for upgrading the 50-acre Port of Madison Parish site, including outfitting the 100,000-square-foot plant with equipment for fabricating steel sub-assemblies. These sub-assemblies will be transported to Avondale’s main shipyard in Avondale, La., to be joined together to form the units, or modules, that are the building blocks in Avondale’s ship construction process.

The Louisiana State government plans to add approximately $1.5 million to improve the Madison Parish Port site where Avondale’s fabrication facility is located. The State funding will also supplement the Avondale training programs that will be necessary to prepare local applicants for the approximately 250 jobs that will be available once the facility is fully operational. As the facility continues to develop, total employment could grow to 300 or more.

Initially, Avondale intends to hire approximately 100 people in production positions, such as welders and shipfitters, along with about 20 to 25 support people, including office personnel. It is intended that more employees will be added as the facility progresses and work increases. A sufficiently skilled labor pool exists in Madison Parish for Avondale to draw from and the Company plans to train others in that area to work at the new fabrication facility.

Avondale Industries, Inc., headquartered in metro New Orleans, designs, builds and overhauls both military and commercial ships.