BATH, Maine –General Dynamics Bath Iron Works formally broke ground today on a workforce housing development at 150 Congress Avenue in Bath, Maine. With funding support from the United States Navy and General Dynamics, BIW has teamed up with Developers Collaborative, an experienced, Maine-based housing company, to invest in the construction of 84 apartments which will be available in mid-2027.
“Supporting our shipbuilders and making it easier for people to become shipbuilders is important to the long-term strength of our company and to our national defense,” said BIW President Charles F. Krugh. “Helping make housing more attainable will help us retain and attract a world-class team and benefit the community of Bath as well.”
These new apartments – studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units – will be close enough to walk or bike to the main shipyard on Washington Street. BIW is also working with the City of Bath to have the local city bus connect shipbuilders with the Main Yard to reduce traffic on local roads.
“The city of Bath is deeply important to the United States Navy,” said Arleigh Burke class destroyer (DDG 51) Program Manager Captain Jay Young. “Our investments in the ‘City of Ships’ reflect our commitment to this community and recognize its dedication to our nation’s security. Access to affordable housing will empower the next generation of shipbuilders to make Bath their home.”
This project benefits from Navy funding to support the defense industry workforce, funding which was advocated for by Maine’s congressional delegation. That same workforce investment enabled BIW to partner with the Bath Area YMCA to open a new childcare facility in Brunswick last month, and to expand the Y’s existing Bath program, creating a total of 150 new childcare spaces for BIW families.
Like the childcare partnership with the Y, BIW employees will have first priority for leasing an apartment, with any unused capacity available for personnel from the Navy’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding and the public. The expectation is that the apartments will be most helpful to new shipbuilders and those commuting more than an hour each way to work.
For more information about this project, go to www.gdbiw.com/housing. To read previous coverage on the funding for this project, go here.
In addition to Louis H. Wilson Jr., Bath Iron Works currently has under construction the Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) and Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127) as well as the Flight III destroyers William Charette (DDG 130), Quentin Walsh (DDG 132), John E. Kilmer (DDG 134), Richard G. Lugar (DDG 136) and J. William Middendorf (DDG 138).
General Dynamics is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; ship construction and repair; land combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; and technology products and services. More information about General Dynamics Bath Iron Works can be found at www.gdbiw.com. More information about General Dynamics is available at www.gd.com.
Developers Collaborative is Maine’s leading developer of projects that enhance their surrounding neighborhoods and address community needs. Learn more at developerscollaborative.com.
