WASHINGTON, D.C. – Earlier this summer, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) urged the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration to award Rhoads Industries, Inc., of Philadelphia, PA, a 2024 Small Shipyard Grant. On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, Rhoads Industries received a $552,846 grant to expand its standard welding training program and add modern mechanized welding systems.  

“The proposed funding will facilitate the acquisition of vital equipment, including ten standard welding systems, two mechanized welding systems, a plasma cutting system, two gantry cranes, and other ancillary equipment. This equipment is essential for establishing a fabrication lab adjacent to their training center, significantly enhancing their educational infrastructure,” said Houlahan.  

Rhoads Industries, located in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, is strategically positioned along the Delaware River, just downriver from the bustling Port of Philadelphia, and nearby Berks and Chester Counties. With a workforce that has grown from 150 employees in 2019 to 375 in 2023, Rhoads is forecasting an additional 200 workers in 2024. Rhoads is committed to strengthening their workforce through expanded in-house training at their advanced on-site training center.  

“Looking forward, Rhoads projects the employment of over 1,000 full-time employees within the next five years, underscoring the critical need for this grant to support their expansive training initiatives,” said Houlahan. “It’s imperative that we re-think STEM education when we talk with our kids or think about career changes for adults. These good-paying jobs have demonstrated successful career tracks, and they are the jobs that our country needs to move forward in the 21st century.” 

These funds will enhance the United States’ national and economic security and boost employment opportunities in our community. Read about the Shipyard Grants awarded to 12 states here. 

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. She is the recipient of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award which “recognizes members who demonstrate the bipartisan leadership and constructive governing necessary to move our country forward” and the Congressional Management Foundation’s 2022 Democracy Award for best Constituent Services in Congress. 

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