NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Newport News city leaders and Virginia Governor Ralph Northam held an outdoor conference Tuesday at which they announced the 332 new maritime jobs in the city.
The opportunities are available through S23 Holdings, LLC, a company that specializes in ship repair and manufacturing (among other maritime interests).
At the morning meeting, Northam said S23 Holdings and affiliate East Coast Repair and Fabrication would be investing $64 million with the expansion.
The company's decision to expand in Newport News came after leaders compared the area with opportunities in Florida and Puerto Rico.
Jorge Rivera, the CEO and Chairman of S23 Holdings, said this area was unique for both its workforce and geography.
"The Newport News facility is strategically located on the James River, has the water depth to accommodate deep-draft vessels, offers unrestricted navigational access, and, most importantly, has access to an underutilized workforce," he explained in a statement. "Workforce development is one of S23’s guiding principles, and our sincere desire to work with the Southeast Community to create new jobs and provide shipyard training was a driving force behind our decision to select Newport News."
Rivera, who is from Puerto Rico, said one of his first jobs was in Newport News.
The company has bought property at 1201 Terminal Avenue and 1511 Harbor Lane to build a manufacturing facility and corporate offices.
Northam said the state would be dredging the channels to make sure Newport News could accommodate large ships easily.
Newport News Mayor McKinley Price said he was excited to see S23 bring jobs to the area.
"This project reflects the core values of our city and the vision for transformation in the Southeast Community," he said.
Governor Northam, Mayor Price, and other leaders emphasized this project will bring jobs and economic opportunities for people in this community, in a time where Virginia is not only in a health crisis, but economic crisis as well.
"This is a tremendous shot in the arm economically for Virginia, and especially in Newport News, during a time when we're trying to build our economy back up," Northam said.
Honermiss Gorham has lived on 14th Street in Newport News for the last 11 years. She said not much has changed in her community. What she wants to see is more job and housing opportunities for people in the Southeast Community.
"I wish they would build up more down here because you can see for yourself how it looks," Gorham said. "A lot of people need jobs."