Kilmer Announces Maritime Centers of Excellence in Pierce, Clallam, and Jefferson Counties
TACOMA, WA – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced that the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) has designated three maritime organizations in Washington’s Sixth Congressional District as Centers of Excellence (CoE) for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education, including:
- Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in Port Hadlock
- Peninsula College in Port Angeles
- Flagship Maritime Training Center in Tacoma
“Throughout our region, a shortage of skilled workers can be a barrier to growth for local employers,” said Rep. Kilmer. “In earning designations as Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education, the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, Peninsula College, and Flagship Maritime will be eligible for new federal resources to train workers and meet the local need for experienced maritime technicians in the community. This announcement will mean more money in the pockets of local workers and a boost for our region’s storied maritime industry.”
Each organization provides workforce development and training within boat building, shipbuilding, and other marine trade sectors, supplying highly skilled workers to companies and ports across the region. This designation will enable each of these maritime partners to become eligible for future grants and federal funds that will allow their organizations to expand their offerings.
“Our country depends on a highly skilled mariner workforce to strengthen both our economy and our national security,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The 32 Centers of Excellence we’re designating today will promote training opportunities outside of traditional four-year degree programs and will bring more Americans into these great maritime careers.”
“Our Centers of Excellence designations recognize the high standards of maritime education and training provided by these organizations,” said MARAD Administrator Ann Phillips. “These institutions play a critical role in providing domestic mariners with the expertise needed to best serve the maritime industry.”
“The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding was founded over four decades ago to teach craftsmanship – skills and values that are never out of date,” said Executive Director of the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding Betsy Davis. “As a non-profit organization, we put our collective efforts into offering students a unique hands-on education to develop skills and confidence as marine systems technicians and boatbuilders so they can find a pathway to satisfying careers and living wages. We are honored that MARAD recognized the effectiveness of the school’s programs and its relevance to today’s maritime sector.”
“Peninsula College is very proud to be a member of the Pacific Northwest Maritime Industries Education Alliance,” said Peninsula College President Suzy Ames, Ed. D. “The designation as a federal Center of Excellence is a great recognition of our work to date and positions us well for the future. Peninsula College is actively seeking funds to start an associate degree in maritime manufacturing to help support our thriving workforce on the North Olympic Peninsula. This designation gives the college a great seal of approval for our work.”
“Once again, Flagship Maritime Training Center has been designated as a 2024 U.S. DOT Center of Excellent designation for maritime training entities throughout the nation,” said Flagship Maritime Training Center Director Skip Andersen and Registrar Jan Andersen. “Just as when we first won this distinction in the last award cycle back in 2021, ours was just one of only thirty such designations awarded throughout the nation, and the only two-person operation to receive this award. This designation says we must be doing something right!”
A total of 32 Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education were designated in MARAD’s announcement, consisting of 50 maritime training locations in 44 cities across 17 states and Guam.
Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education:
The Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Maritime Administrator, may designate certain eligible and qualified training entities as CoEs. Centers of Excellence designations serve to assist the maritime industry in obtaining and maintaining the highest quality workforce.
MARAD developed the CoE Program to support maritime workforce training and education at designated CoEs, including efforts of the designees to admit additional students; recruit and train faculty; expand facilities; create new maritime pathways; and award students credit for prior experience, including military service.
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