“Jobs and Hope”
Joe’s third campaign ad focuses on his work to grow jobs at Electric Boat through investment in our design and engineering workforce.
Joe’s work is a boost not only to Electric Boat and southeastern Connecticut, but also to the hundreds of companies throughout our region and across the state that support and supply our submarine industry. That means jobs and economic stability.
Increased Submarine Design and Engineering Jobs – an investment in our future. When Joe got to Congress, Electric Boat was not designing the next generation of submarine – the first time that our region’s talented submarine designers and engineers was not actively working on a new sub in over 50 years. Joe got right to work – securing over $8 million in “seed” money to get EB working on the initial concept studies for the replacement of our fleet of Ohio-Class submarines in his first term. In his second term, he has helped secure almost $500 million to begin work on the Ohio-class replacement – an achievement that allowed Electric Boat to start hiring over 600 new engineers and move into the Pfizer building in New London to make room for their increased workforce.
“EB needs office space for its design and engineering employees, many of whom work in buildings from the 1960s. The company is also hiring about 700 designers and engineers…They will work on the design for the Navy’s next generation of ballistic-missile submarines to replace the current fleet of Ohio-class, or Trident, boats, and on the Virginia-class submarine design to reduce the cost.” New London Day, 7/5/10
“The credit for these new, high-paying jobs belongs to U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, and U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn. In 2008, Courtney and Lieberman, both members of their respective chambers’ Armed Services Committee, secured $8.2 million to provide the initial seed money for the design of the next generation of Ohio-class SSBN submarines, the Navy’s Trident subs. The next year, 2009, Courtney and Lieberman secured the $495 million for expanded research, development and conceptual studies of the program — thus creating the need for Electric Boat to expand its engineering and design department.” Norwich Bulletin, 6/26/2010.
“This is a major league home run for the city of New London, Pfizer, Electric Boat and the entire region,” Tony Sheridan, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut.” “Local businesses in need of boost are ‘tickled pink’ by EB’s decision,” New London Day, 6/22/10
Won Critical Support for Building Two Submarines a Year. When Joe took office, Electric Boat was only building one Virginia-class submarine a year — a policy that led to hundreds of layoffs and left the future of the yard, and the countless small and medium-sized businesses that rely on it in doubt. In his first year in Congress, Joe secured nearly $600 million to begin building two submarines a year in 2011 – a year earlier than the Navy planned at the time. Today, thanks to Joe’s work, Electric Boat is preparing to building two subs next year – the first time that has happened since the 1980’s.
Learn more about about Joe’s work to invest in our region’s economy.
Get involved today!
