cherry - Lieutenant Governor Cherry Highlights Importance of Michigan Port Collaborative

LANSING - Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry, Jr. will serve as keynote speaker at the upcoming Michigan Port Collaborative Fall 2009 Summit taking place October 28-29 at the Radisson Hotel in Lansing. The lieutenant governor will discuss with leaders from across Michigan the importance of Michigan's Great Lakes port communities and the critical role they can play in the future vitality of Michigan's economy.

"Michigan's Great Lakes' coastline provides an abundance of recreational opportunities for our citizens, but it provides our state with unparalleled economic opportunities as well," said Lieutenant Governor Cherry. "By bringing together leaders from port communities throughout the state, we can best identify how to collectively tap into that resource and grow this crucial sector of Michigan's economy."

Lieutenant Governor Cherry encourages port communities to send delegation members to the summit with diverse perspectives and ideas, including elected officials; tourism, recreation, and convention and visitor bureau leaders; economic development specialists; cargo shipping, ferry, marina, and harbor operators; and museum, lighthouse, and Great Lakes underwater sanctuary and preserve leaders.

The Michigan Port Collaborative will explore topics important to deep water ports that handle cargo, cruise ships, and other large vessels, as well Michigan communities that have smaller harbors and marinas on the Great Lakes coast. The lieutenant governor hopes the conference will generate new ideas and set both short- and long-term goals for port communities to achieve.

"This summit aims to connect both public and private sector leaders from every Michigan port community with their state and federal partners to ensure that ports have a voice in Lansing and Washington, D.C.," added Cherry. "I encourage representatives from every port community to attend this important event."

The lieutenant governor will deliver his keynote address at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28. For more information on the Michigan Port Collaborative, visit http://www.michigan.gov/deqworkshops and click on "Upcoming DEQ Workshops."

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