Members of the USS Beloit Commissioning Committee have officially launched a fundraising campaign for the ship’s commission ceremony.

US Navy Vice Admiral Dirk Debbink says a commissioning ceremony officially places a ship into active service with the Navy, and it can be a week long celebration highlighting the city a ship is named after.

Fundraising Chair Mark Finnegan says they have a goal of $350,000, and there will be seven different levels of donating anywhere from $100 to corporate sponsors in the $50,000 range.

A date and location for the commissioning of the ship are to be determined, and people can visit ussbeloit.org for more information.