State of Maine (DIA)
Abstract
Maine’s defense industry adjustment grant application was assembled with a singular purpose: to insulate the State’s economy from future reductions in federal defense spending. The State of Maine, and southern Maine in particular, is heavily dependent upon defense suppliers and military installations as a driver of the economy. Two of the largest employers in the State, Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, are directly affected by federal defense spending levels and any reduction or closure at either facility would send ripples throughout the State’s economy. DECD’s proposed solution to this problem involves a two-pronged approach: create and execute a strategic plan to diversify the markets and products of Maine’s defense industry suppliers, provide a training mechanism for its current and future employees, and provide sufficient data for future actions in support of Maine’s defense industry suppliers to be taken; and establish an accelerated, independent pilot program to exploit known opportunities in the aerospace and maritime industries. The pilot program will also serve to inform the strategic planning process with the goal of further refining the end product. As a result of the proposed project, Maine’s defense industry suppliers will be less reliant on federal defense spending, displaced workers will be quickly retrained to prepare for work in growth sectors of Maine’s economy, and the State’s economy will be far more robust. The success of this endeavor will also serve as an example of best practice in industry cluster development and diversification, which will encourage similar programs to be undertaken for other vital industries at the state level.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 06, 2016
- Source ID
- HQ00051510053
Entities
People
- Denise J. Garland
Organizations
- Department of Economic and Community Development
- Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation
- Office of the Secretary of Defense