Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Endures Through Recession

By Larry Favinger

Staff Columnist

KITTERY—

While the economy of Southern Maine and Southeastern New Hampshire had its ups and downs during 2011, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard continued to be a huge, steady financial contributor to the local areas.

According to the Economic Impact Study released recently by the Seacoast Shipyard Association, the shipyard increased its employment, its civilian payroll, its military payroll, the purchases of more goods and services, and contracts in 2011.

The total of those activities is over $560 million.

Civilian employment at the Kittery yard has risen from 5,168 in 2010 to 5,187 last year with a corresponding increase in payroll. In 2011, workers earned $408,395,305 compared to $395, 166, 516 the year before.

Those figures break down to show $234,047,564 to 2,948 workers from Maine, $150,79,790 to 1,946 New Hampshire workers, $10,378,138 to 131 Massachusetts residents and $13,176,793 to workers from other states.

A breakdown of the number of employees in area towns and cities and the total payroll for them can be found in accompanying information boxes.

The number of civilian employees has risen each year since 1998 when there were 3,648 on the employment rolls.

The military payroll to the Navy and Coast Guard shows an increase over 2010 with $40,498,582 last year compared to $39,939,431 the previous year.

The shipyard purchased nearly $50 million in goods and services and over $63 million in contracted facility services, much of it from Maine and New Hampshire.

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the oldest of the Navy’s four remaining shipyards, is considered “the most efficient yard in the Navy”, according to Navy Capt. William McDonough, a retired shipyard commander, now a spokesman for the Seacoast Shipyard Association.

The Association is concerned about the possibility of the formation of another BRAC down the road to consider another round of facility closures across the military landscape.

McDonough said the economic study underlines that a closure of the shipyard would be “a devastating thing to the local economy, as well as the overall states of Maine and New Hampshire.”

McDonough noted the shipyard has “a good workload for the foreseeable future,” another positive situation. Following World War II the Navy had 11 shipyards but that number has since been reduced to four.

More good news for the shipyard is the recent awarding of two contracts totaling over $65 million for modernization work at the yard.

U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) welcomed the announcement.

“The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is an economic engine that drives the economy of southern Maine and New Hampshire," Sen. Collins a member of both the Senate Armed Services Committee and Defense Appropriations Subcommittee said. “I am pleased that the Navy recognizes the critical need for these investments at the shipyard. This will help improve the safety and efficiency of the terrific workforce that keeps our Nation's nuclear submarines ready for sea every day."

Sen. Shaheen and Sen. Ayotte are also members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“We have strongly advocated for the Navy to address critical infrastructure and modernization needs at the shipyard, and we’re pleased that this important work is now moving forward,” said the Senators in a joint statement. “The projects announced this month will make a significant dent in the facility modernization backlog and help improve safety and efficiency at Portsmouth, whose workers set the standard for maintaining our nation’s nuclear submarine fleet.

“We are pleased that the Navy has continued to recognize and correct the critical need for investments at Portsmouth.”

Dover Offers New “Transparent” Government Resource

DOVER—

The City of Dover unveiled a new resource that provides one-stop access to the City's significant open government tools and information. The new web page, “Transparent Dover,” was launched to coincide with Sunshine Week.

Each year, Sunshine Week promotes the importance of open government and freedom of information. A variety of agencies and organizations participate, including local government, news media, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and others interested in the public's right to know. This year, Sunshine Week spanned March 11-16, coinciding with James Madison's birthday on March 16.

The City of Dover is an advocate for the public's right to know, and values transparency in all aspects of local government.

City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr., said the City strives to make information readily available to the public on a daily basis. The City's website, www.dover.nh.gov, updated daily, is a repository for thousands of documents, records and public information, including financial information, City reports, budget details, and meeting records. Few communities in the State of New Hampshire or across the nation make as much information available to the public as a matter of course.

"The City of Dover is committed to open government and transparency," Joyal said. "We will continue to promote openness and public participation in local government, recognizing that transparency is the foundation of public trust."

The new web page allows residents and the public to navigate to many of the most requested and essential City documents and records, as well as information about all aspects of local government. The page, which collects links to public resources into one easy-to-navigate location, is a way for the public to quickly find links to the significant information already available on the City's website. Transparent Dover will be updated regularly to reflect additional resources.

Transparent Dover also allows the public to compare the City's commitment to open government against the "Transparency Checklist" created by the nonprofit organization Sunshine Review. The City of Dover meets or exceeds all of the items on that checklist.

According to the Sunshine Review, "residents and taxpayers need to be able to gauge whether local government is effective, competent, frugal with tax revenue, and in compliance with laws relating to public records and open meetings." The Sunshine Review benchmark is the availability of key information online.

For more information, contact City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr., at 603-516-6023.

Seeds of Faith Hosts “Fashions By the Sea”

RYE—

Seeds of Faith will host a Fashion Show and Silent Auction Fundraiser on Saturday, March 24, from 1-3pm, at the beautiful Wentworth Country Club in Rye. One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit the New Beginnings Transitional Housing Training Program (NBTTP). Tickets are $40, and there are a limited number of seats available.

Through the experience of the last ten years, Seeds of Faith volunteers having witnessed mothers without food for their children, families living in cars, fathers degraded and the greatest tragedy of all, children who fall prey to the cycle of generational homelessness. Therefore, the goal for Seeds of Faith in 2012 is a 365-day "New Beginnings Transitional Training Program" (NBTTP) for homeless families and single woman—a local effort to help break the cycle of generational homelessness.

Their newest project, New Beginnings Thrift Boutique, is located on 82 High Street in Somersworth. Operated and supported by over 20 wonderful volunteers, the boutique offers an array of new and gently used clothes, furniture, jewelry, antiques, children’s clothes and much more, all donated by the community. This allotment allows 100 percent of its profit to go toward critical funding for their NBTTP.

If you would like to partner with them by participating in the Fashions by the Sea, here are just a few items to look forward to: Burberry, Dana Buchman, Bisou Bisou, Gap and Facial rejuvenation services—an $800 dollar value—donated by Dr. Timothy M. Osborn MD, DDS, as well as a Dental Whitening—a $700 dollar value—donated by John Chiou DMD, MMSC, and much more.

Because of the limited seating, get your tickets today. Call 207-475-2155, or directly from their website, www.seedsoffaithministries.org, by clicking the "donate here" icon.

“If one could look into the eyes of these hungry children, see the pain on a mother’s face and feel the brokenness of a father’s heart, one would profoundly realize and understand the absolute necessity in breaking the cycle of generational homelessness,” explains Seeds of Faith member Theresa Tozier.