LORAIN, Ohio — Democratic Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown and Ohio Representative Tim Ryan stopped in Lorain for a rally supporting the Bartlett Maritime project.
The rally hosted by Ohio AFL-CIO, the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council, the AFL-CIO Metal Trades Department and Bartlett Maritime Corporation took place at 10 a.m. at the Black River Landing Amphitheater in Lorain.
The rally kicked off with Jimmy Hart president of the Metal Trades Department, AFL-CIO calling for the need for a Marine Highway.
"There is a rebirth happening in Lorain," said Hart. "It will not be completed until we create tens of thousands of jobs across the country."
We streamed coverage of the rally live, which you can watch in the player below:
Hart informed attendees that they plan to build 200 ships across the next three years. The goals of the project also include re-building the marine highway and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.
The Bartlett Maritime Plan includes the proposal of building a submarine service facility in Lorain and a component repair facility in Lordstown that will aid the U.S. Navy’s submarines.
Senator Brown, Rep. Ryan, and Rep. Marcy Kaptur both took to the podium to express their support of the project and for working families in Ohio.
“Ohio workers have the talent and the skills to ensure we have a modern Navy, stronger than any in the world,” said Brown. “They just need leaders who actually make them a priority. I’m going to keep working with Tim and Marcy and with Ohio workers and companies to press for military investment in Ohio – and for all investments that have the potential to create Ohio jobs.”
Congressman Ryan expressed the importance of bringing back shipping jobs to Ohio.
“There are no workforces better equipped than Lordstown and Lorain to carry out the needs of our nation’s submarine fleet,” said Congressman Ryan. “Time after time, Ohio workers have showed up to answer our nation’s greatest challenges. Now it’s time our government shows up for Ohio workers. I will continue to fight like hell to create these good-paying jobs in Ohio and give every working Ohioan economic freedom and a fair shot at the American Dream.”
The proposal plans to build upon Ohio’s previous history of supporting the U.S. Navy.
"Ohio has always been home to key elements of America's naval industrial base," said Captain Edward Bartlett, USMM, and founder of Bartlett Maritime Corporation. "Every nuclear-powered ship in the U.S. Navy, for instance, features unique components and equipment that were designed and built in Ohio. The Bartlett Maritime Plan builds on Ohio's long heritage of support for the U.S. Navy and leverages the state's abundant resources and world-class union workforce to help the Navy address the national security challenges associated with both nuclear-powered ship maintenance and submarine construction."
The new facilities would bring thousands of union jobs to Northeast Ohio. According to the plan, 4,000 permanent metal trades union jobs and 2,000 to 3,000 jobs for construction workers would be created.
"Union workers built this country and strengthened our national security. Ohioans in Lorain, Lordstown and across the state are ready now to do our part by expanding and improving our Naval shipyard performance," said Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga. "Strategic investments in the Marine Highway are crucial to the Navy's efficiencies and readiness and workers in Ohio and the Great Lakes region have what it takes to advance this mission."
Other attendees included leaders and workers from area unions, as well as representatives from Bartlett Maritime Corporation. Many elected officials and individuals running in the May 3 primary showed their support.
The project also aims to make an impact in response to the current international problems happening amongst other countries.
"The AFL-CIO Maritime Highway & National Supply Chain Resurgence Initiative is a major element and dramatic response to the international challenges from Russia and China to our national security," said Rear Admiral Robert Frick, USN (Ret). "The efforts and progress made to restore and rebuild America and renew our national shipping, roads and bridges is directly linked to the incorporation and ever increasing reliance on the coastal and inland maritime highways.”
In March, Bartlett told 3News that they hope for a ceremonial groundbreaking for both facilities in October and for construction to start at both locations in early spring 2023. Upon the start of construction, Bartlett believes the Lordstown depot will be finished within two years and the Lorain shipyard in 3-4 years.
"America is at an inflection point and it is almost impossible to overstate how important this point in time really is," said Hart. "Our country must decide at this moment how we will manage our economic, national security and climate goals. It is time for tested, national leadership to step up and I'm here to let America know that a defining moment in American history begins here today in Lorain, Ohio."
EDITOR'S NOTE: The video was previously aired on Sept. 30, 2021 regarding a deal between Lordstown Motors and Foxconn.