Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has announced a major boost to the state’s defense manufacturing sector with a nearly US$100 million investment from Rhoads Industries. The Philadelphia-based fabricator will construct a 95,000-square-foot (8,800-square-meter) facility at the Navy Yard to increase capacity in support of the U.S. Navy’s submarine construction program.
Enhancing national security infrastructure
The new facility will streamline Rhoads’ production operations by enabling a continuous fabrication process, reducing bottlenecks, and allowing for direct barge shipping of completed components. “With support from the commonwealth—including a new US$4 million investment and more than US$17 million over the past decade—Rhoads will expand its footprint, double its capacity for the U.S. Navy’s submarine program, and strengthen our national security,” Governor Shapiro said during the announcement ceremony on July 3.
Historic company with strategic vision
Founded in 1896, Rhoads Industries has been family-owned for over a century. The company provides large-scale industrial fabrication and mechanical services, specializing in maritime and defense-related manufacturing. Its facilities at the Navy Yard already include over 300,000 square feet (28,000 square meters) of heavy manufacturing space, positioning it as a key contributor to the U.S. maritime industrial base.
Driving job creation and economic growth
This expansion is expected to create approximately 450 jobs in the region, reaffirming the role of Philadelphia’s Navy Yard as a critical hub for advanced manufacturing and defense readiness. “Shipbuilding has always been a key part of Philadelphia’s identity and our economy,” added Governor Shapiro, emphasizing the long-standing partnership between the state and Rhoads Industries in bolstering both economic development and national defense capabilities.
