SUPERIOR, Wis. (AP) - A custom boat building company in Superior has received a $6.2 million contract to build dozens of riverboats for a tourist attraction in Texas.
The contract means more jobs for Superior as Fraser Shipyards’ Lake Assault Boats will build more than 40 riverboats this year for San Antonio’s River Walk, Wisconsin Public Radio (https://bit.ly/2j6SViq) reported.
Lake Assault Boats vice president of operations Chad Dumars said the company will nearly double its workforce to build a boat every week. He said the majority of new employees will be hired in early March.
City planning and port director Jason Serck said the deal will yield rewards beyond the 14 jobs to be added through the project as he hopes people will move to the area and buy housing.
“It’s tax base. It’s hopefully new people moving into the area and finding some housing. A lot of trickle down for that,” Serck said. “It is essentially continuing to make Fraser Shipyard, bringing them more out into the world of additional uses and additional services. I think it’s positive all the way around.”
Dave Minor, president and chief executive of the Superior-Douglas County Chamber, said the project is very important for the city.
“They’re going to be using not only Fraser Shipyards and Northern Engineers in the combined Fraser family to help build these, but again they’re going to be relying on local suppliers for product and everything,” Minor said. “So, it’s not just them. It’s how that money is going to filter through our community as well.”
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Information from: Wisconsin Public Radio, https://www.wpr.org
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