Shipbuilder Austal USA has donated more than $100,000 to Mobile area organizations supporting families and small businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.
“Austal understands the challenges many are facing during the pandemic at home or with their business,” said Craig Savage, director of communications and external affairs for Austal, in a statement from the company. “We know our community is resilient and by working together, we’ll get through this together.”
The company contributed to the Downtown Strong Program, a small business grant program of the Downtown Mobile Alliance. It supported The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama and the Mobile County Public School System and those organizations’ efforts to provide food and educational activities during the school closures.
Austal also supported the food service efforts of Feeding the Gulf Coast and Prodisee Pantry.
With the demand for personal protective equipment continuing to rise, the company transitioned its 3D printing away from printing ship and machine parts to printing reusable masks and tension relief straps for use by USA Health.
Watch Austal’s 3D printers go to work making tension relief straps:
Austal previously partnered with The United Way of Southwest Alabama in March to raise over $300,000 through Austal’s nationwide supplier network.
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Tim Howe is an owner of Yellowhammer Multimedia