MARINETTE, Wis. (WFRV) — Fincantieri Marinette Marine has been awarded a nearly $800 million contract to build the first-in-class guided-missile frigate for the U.S. Navy, with an option for adding nine extra ships.

The deal offers the company the ability to build and deliver up to 10 ships as well as post-delivery availability support, among other things.

The award, announced by the Department of Defense Thursday, is valued up to $5.5 billion if all options are exercised.

As part of the future frigate program, the U.S. Navy plans to build 20 ships.

Legislators from both sides of the political spectrum were reacting to this monumental deal.

Gov. Evers commended the U.S. Navy for their announcement:

“This is great news, not only for the folks at Marinette Marine, but for the entire Marinette community and state economy. This expansion will allow Marinette Marine to continue to support thousands of family-supporting jobs and grow our workforce in Northeast Wisconsin.”

-Gov. Tony Evers (D) Wisconsin

While Senator Tammy Baldwin called this a big win for Wisconsin:

Wisconsin has been selected by the U.S. Navy to build new ships. This is a big win for our #MadeinWI economy right now and it will support thousands of skilled workers at the Marinette Marine shipyard and bring an additional 1,000 jobs.

— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) April 30, 2020

And on the other side of the aisle, Republican John Nygren was very happy about this deal as well:

I am ecstatic not only for my hometown but all of WI with the announcement that Fincantieri Marinette Marine has been awarded the highly competitive Navy contract to build frigate warships. This is a monumental moment for WI and speaks to the highly skilled individuals of our st.

— John Nygren (@rep89) April 30, 2020

Fincantieri is one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups and has built more than 7,000 vessels in over 230 years of maritime history.