Michigan Port Collaborative Announces Spring Summit in Muskegon

DETROIT, April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michigan Port Collaborative, a coalition of Michigan waterfront communities, today announced its Spring 2010 Summit will be taking place in Muskegon, Michigan at the Holiday Inn – Muskegon Harbor on Thursday, May 20 and Friday, May 21, 2010.  The Collaborative is anticipating approximately 200 representatives of the more then 90 port communities throughout Michigan to attend, thanks to growing support and interest.  

"The Muskegon community is honored to host this Spring's Summit," said Janessa Stroud, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce.  "Muskegon's economic vitality has always been tied to our working port. We are excited to showcase where we've been, where we're going and the role our port will play in creating jobs for the future," said Stroud.  

At its Fall 2009 Summit, the Michigan Port Collaborative unanimously agreed to legally incorporate itself as a non-profit organization, an effort that is ongoing.  In May, the Collaborative will continue 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."

Representatives of Michigan's two U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow will update attendees regarding federal policy and funding issues that are currently impacting port communities statewide.  Also, the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce will host a joint breakfast with the Collaborative which will feature a keynote address by Ken Szallai, President of Lake Express, a company that provides high-speed ferry service between Muskegon and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  

"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.  "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."

Registration information can be found at:

http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3308_3333_4169-234270--,00.html

SOURCE Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority