Mississippi
msapostille.Com

Construction could start as early as January for Jackson County's maritime training facility to be built on Ingalls Shipbuilding property.

The Mississippi Press reports that the Board of Supervisors and the Port Authority's Board of Commissioners are expected to award a $15.6 million contract on Monday to Ben M. Radcliff Contractor Inc. of Mobile.

Leaders say it would take about 45 days to start construction on the 76,000-square-foot facility.

Radcliff was the low bidder, but its $16.6 million proposal was higher than budgeted.

Port Director Mark McAndrews says about $1 million was cut by agreeing to off-the-shelf construction materials, rather than special orders.

The project was funded through a Hurricane Katrina community development block grant. It will help Ingalls expand its apprentice program to about 1,000 students.

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