Broussard company bringing production home from China

Gov. Bobby Jindal and Maritime International President David LeBlanc announced today the company is moving production from China to Broussard, with an $8 million manufacturing expansion expected to create 90 new direct jobs and 150 new indirect jobs. Maritime International makes mooring systems and protective fenders for international harbors and the U.S. Navy. The company will move production now taking place in China to its plant in St. Martin Parish. In addition, the company will invest in robotic welding equipment to perform precision metal work in Broussard, and the company will add 30,000 square feet of manufacturing space to its 65,000-square-foot headquarters. Maritime’s current workforce totals 70 employees. The new jobs will pay an average salary of about $57,000 annually, plus benefits. Maritime, which also manufactures piles, vacuums, tanks and other general fabrication for the offshore oil and gas industry, will begin construction in 2012 and complete the expansion within a year. The project will generate about 100 construction jobs. Louisiana Economic Development began assisting Maritime International in March 2010. To secure the new jobs and investment, LED will provide a performance-based, forgivable loan of $900,000 from its Economic Development Loan Opportunity Program. Maritime also will receive training assistance at no cost from the nation’s highest-ranked workforce development program, Louisiana FastStart, and the company is expected to utilize Louisiana’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.