Will Bay County Get Aboard the Michigan Port Collaborative at Long Last?
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Jim Byrum raised the exciting prospect of a port here to ship agricultural products from the Saginaw Valley overseas.
As discussion of a deep water agricultural shipping port in Saginaw Bay heats up, another opportunity for local officials to join a potential economic bandwagon is approaching.
So far there has been a noticeable lack of interest in local, or regional, economic developers, in linking the historic Saginaw River/Bay Port of Bay City/Bay County to cooperative efforts.
Jim Byrum, executive director of the Michigan Agri-Business Association, speaking at the Bay Area Chamber "On the Go" event recently, raised the exciting prospect of a port here to ship agricultural products from the Saginaw Valley overseas.
But he stressed the need for a port authority to coordinate efforts and secure funding, an idea that has so far not even generated discussion from local officials except for Howard Wetters, former state legislator and retired MSU Extension director, and County Executive Thomas L. Hickner.
The Michigan Port Collaborative will hold its Fall 2011 Summit on Wednesday, Oct. 26th at the Lansing Center, 333 E Michigan Avenue, Lansing.
What is described as "hot new regional data on the economic impacts of Great Lakes ports" will be presented by Steve Fisher, President of the American Great Lakes Port Association (AGLPA).
Mr. Fisher will provide the latest information on the current and potential opportunities for Michigan and Great Lakes cargo and commercial ports, per results from a just-completed study that AGLPA conducted with the St. Lawrence Seaway Economic Development Corporation.
Michigan ports and their partners are seeking signatures of support for federal legislation to provide critical funds to dredge Michigan's more than 100 ports.
Summit attendees will learn about the latest efforts to create Michigan port jobs, get updates on Great Lakes port success stories as well as state and federal policies of interest to ports.
Port issues will be discussed by key Michigan policymakers including State Senator Mike Kowall, Chair, Senate Economic Development Committee; and State Senator Tom Casperson, Chair, Senate Transportation Committee.
http://registration.michiganportcollaborative.com/
At its Fall 2009 Summit, the Michigan Port Collaborative unanimously agreed to incorporate as a non-profit organization. The Collaborative continues to develop its state and federal policy agenda and identify funding opportunities and policy initiatives that support commercial shipping, tourism, recreation, alternative energy and environmental restoration.
"The opportunity to speak with one powerful voice on the myriad of issues affecting Michigan's ports is vital, especially so for Marquette with its strong combination of commercial bulk shipping, commercial and sport fishing and recreational boating," said Fred Stonehouse, City Commissioner from the City of Marquette.
Others, including Felicia Fairchild, Executive Director, of the Saugatuck-Douglas Convention & Visitors Bureau, feel the partnership among ports will, "add another dimension to the State's tourism mix by highlighting its most important assets which include its diverse port communities and harbor towns." She added, "The synergy of all these ports working together will most certainly strengthen us all and produce very positive results in Lansing and Washington, D.C."
"Although each of our member communities are unique in geography and composition, we all feel a sense of cohesiveness as we each work to obtain the resources that will improve the conditions of our respective ports," said John Kerr, who represents the Port of Detroit and serves as Chairman of the Interim Steering Committee, adding:
"We recognize that we represent our State's most identifiable asset, therefore together, we seek to educate and inform the public and private sectors of the opportunities presented by the 'blue water economy' we collectively form."
In 2007, approximately 40 leaders from deep water ports and state government met in Port Huron to explore common issues and opportunities for port communities. Follow-up meetings in Traverse City, Detroit and Lansing recruited additional communities and leaders, and resulted in the formation of the Michigan Port Collaborative by 2009.
The Collaborative has established a Steering Committee representing every region of the state and diverse port functions. The organization has officially incorporated as an independent non-profit organization, filed for tax-exempt and tax-deductible status, begun construction of its website, conducted port-related research and set up its initial information clearinghouse. The Collaborative hosts statewide and regional meetings each year and continues to connect to port communities and our partners and to:
Advance common policy and budget priorities in Lansing and Washington D.C.;
Develop and sustain diverse transportation services. Showcase Michigan's rich maritime heritage and bountiful natural beauty;
Build Great Lakes stewardship;
Share resources, news, innovative ideas and best practices;
Expand Freight Transport on the Great Lakes and Exempt New Cargoes from the Federal Harbor Maintenance Tax to foster short sea shipping as a clean alternative to our nation's congested highways;
Require the Federal Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to be fully and solely used for its intended purpose -- dredging, infrastructure, operation and maintenance of federally authorized ports;
Improve access to Michigan ports for Canadian boaters and foreign cruise ship passengers and work with local, state, US Customs and Border Protection officials to achieve this goal;
Promote passenger cruises between Michigan ports and other U.S. Great Lakes ports -- opening Michigan's Front Door to new opportunities in waterfront travel;
Maximize and leverage funding for Great Lakes Restoration and Protection -- our freshwater seas define our state, provide us with clean drinking water, recreation, fishing and commerce. We will work to increase funding to keep our air, land and water clean, restore contaminated sites and return them to productive use, protect sensitive habitat and sustain a healthy environment;
Position Michigan ports to partner in alternative energy development in Michigan and the Region... renewable energy for Michigan consumers, businesses and vehicles will require our ports and transportation partners to import and export renewable energy equipment, as well as support manufacturing and maintenance of equipment and technology;
Advance education and training for port-related jobs, working with businesses, educators and port communities to identify the port-related jobs of the future and advocate for public and private partnerships and funding to meet workforce needs;
Preserve and share Michigan's rich natural and maritime heritage. Our Great Lakes and freshwater shoreline offer unparalleled opportunities for recreation, tourism and experiencing authentic maritime history.
Additional State and Federal incentives and funding are essential to showcase Michigan's unique and splendid assets, state and national parks, shipwreck preserves, lighthouses and historic places.
As an area of economic activity with great potential because of our waterfront location and heritage, Bay City and Bay County officials should pursue every possible chance to connect with ongoing statewide efforts -- initiatives that so far have apparently been ignored. ###
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