SENEDIA to Award $2M in Reimbursement Subsidies for Submarine Workforce Training

The Virginia-class attack submarine USS California (SSN 781) makes its way up the Thames River and past the city of New London, Connecticut, returning home to Naval Submarine Base New London on Saturday, June 12, 2021 following an extended docking selected restricted availability at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. *U.S. NAVY / John Narewski*

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. — The Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (SENEDIA) is offering $2 million in training reimbursement subsidies to strengthen the New England submarine shipbuilding workforce, the alliance said in an Oct. 7 release. Applications are currently being accepted for this Incumbent Worker Trade/Industrial Skills Training Program, made possible through financial support from the Department of Defense Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment National Imperative for Industrial Skills program.

Eligible employers can receive $30,000 in total to train their current workforce, up to $10,000 per trainee.

“By investing in our employees today, we are ensuring the strength of our industry tomorrow,” said Molly Donohue Magee, executive director of SENEDIA. “We know that the demand for highly skilled workers in submarine shipbuilding will continue to increase, so we urge employers to take advantage of this exciting opportunity to advance both the skills of their current employees and the prospects of their companies.”

This funding is available for trades and industrial skills training for New England-based (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont) incumbent — or currently employed — workers. Companies that currently support or could support the submarine shipbuilding supply chain are encouraged to apply. Applications will be reviewed on a first-come/first-served basis, with applications remaining open only until the available funding has been exhausted. To learn more about this program or to apply, visit www.BuildSubmarines.com/Training.

“We were the first organization to sign up for this opportunity, because we recognize that this direct investment in our talent pipeline will pay dividends both in the professional skill of our employees, and in the future growth of our company,” said Colin McClennan, vice president and general manager of Evans Capacitor Company, a division of Quantic Electronics. McLennan serves as the Rhode Island co-chair for the partnership and is the vice chair for Membership on the SENEDIA Board of Directors.

Tom Spock of CIRCOR is the Massachusetts co-chair for the partnership.

“Our region is the hub for submarine shipbuilding nationally, and this workforce development initiative serves to further reinforce the strength of our industry in New England,” said Spock, CIRCOR vice president. “I encourage employers across Massachusetts and beyond to reach out to SENEDIA and our growing group of co-chairs to learn more. This is a first come, first served program, so you should act without delay in order to extend this exciting and rewarding opportunity to your employees.”

Employers that are interested in participating in the Incumbent Worker Trade/Industrial Skills Training Program can also learn more at an upcoming webinar on Oct. 21 at 9 a.m. EST. At this session, SENEDIA team members will walk companies through the process of signing up and accessing funds, as well as helping employers to identify whether they are eligible. To register for the webinar, visit www.BuildSubmarines.com/Training.

“With $2 million on the table and up to $30,000 available per employer with no matching required, this is a no-brainer for defense industry companies,” said Zenagui Brahim, president of the New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a Regional Stakeholder in the partnership. “The New Hampshire MEP and my colleagues across the region are proud to partner with this effort to provide valuable training and education to incumbent workers, while expanding and strengthening the supply chain. If you aren’t sure whether or not you qualify, reach out to learn more before these funds are exhausted.”

SENEDIA has additionally included a training organization database on the BuildSubmarines website, to help connect training organizations with program applicants. Training organizations that wish to be included in this database can enter their information at www.BuildSubmarines.com/Training-Organization-Form.

“Small business owners do not often have the time or resources to explore professional development or talent recruitment opportunities. This program, and all the avenues to connect and collaborate that SENEDIA offers, allows employers to expand current capacity and invest in the future success of their workers at no cost to them,” said Christopher Jewell, chief financial officer and principal of Collins and Jewell Company in Connecticut and the Connecticut co-chair for the partnership. Collins and Jewell will be offering training to its employees on welding quality management and a process auditing and corrective action through this program.

SENEDIA invites interested organizations to join the Next Generation Submarine Shipbuilding Supply Chain Partnership, the mission of which is to help the New England submarine shipbuilding supply chain with workforce and economic development initiatives. This industry-led partnership is supported by more than 40 regional stakeholders from state/local government, institutes of higher education, and regional workforce and economic development agencies.