WASHINGTON, D.C., June, 29, 2022 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced today that members of the U.S. House and Senate have stepped up and highlighted their support for the MRAA’s recent submission to the Apprenticeship Building America grant program hosted by the Department of Labor. Members of both chambers sent letters to the Department of Labor highlighting their support for the program and the immense impact it would not only have on citizens and businesses in their districts, but also the recreational boating industry at large.
“The MRAA and the recreational boating industry cannot thank the members who have stepped up to support the BOAT Jobs Grant Application enough,” said Chad Tokowicz, Government Relations Manager at MRAA. “Your support for this initiative and the workforce of the recreational boating industry is laudable and further highlights your commitment to your constituents and improving the outdoor recreation economy as a whole.”
Again, the MRAA wholeheartedly appreciate the members below who supported our grant application:
• Sen. Reed (D-RI)
• Sen. Whitehouse (D-RI)
• Rep. Dingell (D-MI-12)
• Rep. Stevens (D-MI-11)
• Rep. Waltz (R-FL-06)
• Rep. Cicilline (D-RI-01)
• Rep. Langevin (D-RI-02)
As submitted, the grant application outlines that MRAA would create multiple Registered Apprenticeship Programs, in coordination with industry partners, along with several Regional Registered Apprenticeship Hubs. Those Hubs would allow MRAA to deliver the necessary resources and programming for meeting the program’s goals through regional partners. The grant proceeds, which could provide MRAA with as much as $8 million over four years, would fund the creation of technician and other service department apprenticeship and education programs, in addition to providing seed money for industry businesses to subsidize the costs of hiring apprentices. Grant funding will also support the development of a national career awareness and a recruitment marketing program to increase the visibility of the marine workforce.
Over the last decade, the boating industry workforce shortage has grown. A 2017 MRAA survey solidified that notion, revealing that by 2019, the number of open positions in dealerships would exceed 31,000 — that number does not even include vacancies of manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and other marine related businesses. The expected workforce deficit was much higher than predicted, in part due to the number of dealerships growing nationwide, and was no longer only a human resources issue, but also an economic concern. And then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
The MRAA is awaiting the Department of Labor to announce the winners to the Apprenticeship Building America grant program. Slated to start in July, we expected the announcement will come shortly. If you have any further questions about the marine workforce or our grant, feel free to reach out to Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager, at Chad@mraa.com or 978-569-5127.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.
