August 2012 - Alabama State Port Authority

The USS CORONADO was
flagged and ready as
it awaited christening
on the Mobile River in
January 2012.
Gov. Bentley Announces New Project Agreement, Additional
Job Creation with Austal USA
The ship builder is currently under contract with the
U.S. Navy to build nine 103-meter JHSVs under a 10-
ship, $1.6 billion contract, as well as five 127-meter
INDEPENDENCE-variant LCSs, four of which are a part
of a 10-ship, $3.5 billion contract.
As prime contractor of the JHSV program and the
INDEPENDENCE-variant program for LCS 6 and beyond,
Austal is teamed with GDAIS, a business unit of General
Dynamics. As the ship systems integrator, GDAIS is
responsible for the design, integration and testing of the
ship’s electronic systems, including the combat system,
networks and seaframe control. General Dynamics’
proven open architecture approach allows for affordable
and efficient capability growth as technologies develop.
One of southern Alabama’s largest employers, Austal has
grown to include more than 3,000 employees on its staff,
hailing from the Mobile area, Mississippi, Florida and
beyond. Under the current workload, Austal expects to
employ more than 4,000 Americans by the end of 2013.
Gov. Robert Bentley recently announced a new project
agreement with Austal USA that will see the shipbuilder
add up to 1,000 new full-time jobs in Mobile.
An aerial photo shows the sheer size of
the Austal USA complex. The company is
Mobile's largest industrial employer.
The Phase V Agreement is a five-year, $5 million
agreement that will help Austal continue its workforce
expansion efforts. As part of the agreement, the company
will also receive employee training services from the
Alabama Industrial Development Training program
(AIDT). AIDT is renowned for providing quality workforce
development for Alabama’s new and existing businesses.
Once the overall expansion is completed at Austal, total
employment at the Mobile complex is expected to reach
approximately 4,600 people.
“With this new project agreement, we are creating new
jobs and new opportunities for the people of Alabama,”
Gov. Bentley said. “We are moving forward with our
Accelerate Alabama plan for long-term economic
development. We are committed to creating a broad
range of new jobs while also supporting existing
companies. Austal USA’s plans for expansion fit perfectly
in the Accelerate Alabama plan. The company is a leader
in building defense and commercial vessels, and we
Gov. Robert Bentley appointed Greg Canfield as Secretary of
Commerce in July 2011.
Alabama Seaport • August 2012 17