It's been a long time coming. Officials from Lockheed Martin and Marinette Marine met with the chamber's board of directors in August 2009. At that time, everyone believed a decision in the then-winner-take-all contract could come as early as July of August 2010.
But these matters rarely happen without setbacks and obstacles and the contract was no exception. The purchase proposal changed to a split between our local shipyard and one in Mobile, Ala., with 10 ships built at each yard. And now it's reality: Good news indeed after a protracted recession that economists insist ended in June 2009.
The contract will create jobs at Marinette Marine and allow company officials to bring laid off workers back to the job. Some of this will happen in early 2011, the rest will occur over a period of years. In addition to new jobs at the shipyard, it is expected that 4,000 to 5,000 jobs will be created in supporting industries across Northeast Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.
This is reason to rejoice during this season of good cheer and gratitude. Our community - like the rest of the country - has experienced unemployment. At one point, the percentage was high: Between 13 and 14 percent on both sides of the river.
In the fall of 2009, the chamber pulled a small group of economic development people together for lunch. The group made the decision to target lawmakers to get the job done in Washington. Those lawmakers - from both Michigan and Wisconsin - came through for our community and our region with fling colors.
We are grateful for their support.
Many of these same lawmakers are leaving office this month. But they will do so on a high note.
And so we will celebrate the winter holidays on a note of optimism and gratitude.
And when the lighted tree is once again hoisted on the shipyard crane - a long-standing tradition - we will know it's Christmas for certain.
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