Electric Boat boost

With the Ocean State’s economic outlook so often dreary, it is nice to hail some terrific news related to the technological knowhow and workforce that still exist here. General Dynamics’ Electric Boat division has secured a $17.6 billion contract for 10 Virginia-class nuclear submarines.

The company produces hull and other components of the subs at Quonset Point in North Kingstown, finishing them at its Groton, Conn., shipyard. Many Rhode Islanders are employed at the two shipyards, and EB is planning to add hundreds of well-paid workers at both of them, and at its engineering offices in Newport and New London.

For a while, it looked as if the budget sequestration of 2011, which capped much government spending, including for the armed forces, might torpedo the Virginia program, but with Congress’s recent two-year suspension of sequestration, the contract for the new boats, needed to replace the Navy’s aging Los Angeles-class subs, was able to go ahead. Construction on the first two Virginia-class boats began on May 1, two days after the contract was announced, and the last one is scheduled for delivery in 2023.

This effort is one for which the state is well prepared, with apprentice welding programs run by unions such as Plumbers and Fitters Local 51 and Iron Workers Local 37, and nonprofits such as Building Futures.

Without doubt, it was helpful that Rhode Island is represented by Sen. Jack Reed, a Democrat respected on both side of the aisle for his military knowledge. As chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, he clearly understands the importance of these submarines in the nation’s defense, and the capacity of Electric Boat to support that crucial effort. The subsurface fleet will continue to be important to the Navy’s mission because of submarines’ stealth capabilities and ability to evade missile attacks. That means that they will be important to the region’s economy, as well.

Manufacturing jobs have strong economic multipliers and generate additional jobs elsewhere in the economy. They are the kinds of jobs that drove Rhode Island to greatness a century ago. So, for many reasons, the announcement of the EB contract is exciting news.