North Cross Aluminum in Freeland has been busy the past couple of months.

Along with fabricating railings and stairs for multi-family units in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle, the small company has been toiling away on a nearly $500,000 marine response boat for South Whidbey Fire/EMS.

It will be the fledgling firm’s first rescue boat.

In April, the district’s three fire commissioners approved the bid of $478,893.77 by North Cross and owner Tim Leonard.

It was the only bid submitted at the time, which Leonard and the fire commissioners speculated was due to the detailed specifications of the vessel.

Most of the funding for the boat will come from a $350,000 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant, with the fire district paying the remainder.

Assistant Chief Paul Busch said the fire district expects to have the fire boat in possession by November.