Michigan boating industry says sector supports jobs, seeks more waterway funding and invasive‑species prevention
Loading...
Summary
The Michigan Boating Industries Association briefed the committee on industry size, jobs and infrastructure needs and urged higher waterway funding and support for invasive‑species prevention programs.
Nikki Poland, executive director of the Michigan Boating Industries Association, told the House Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism that boating supports statewide economic activity and called for more funding for waterway infrastructure and invasive‑species prevention.
Poland said Michigan’s boating industry produces an $11,700,000,000 annual economic impact, supports about 1,500 marine businesses and more than 58,000 jobs. She told members that Michigan ranks among the top states by boat registrations and that most boats are trailerable and under 20 feet.
Poland outlined MBIA programs to reduce pollution and invasive species spread, including a clean‑drain‑dry outreach campaign funded in part through a three‑year grant from Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). She said MBIA and partners are promoting shrink‑wrap recycling and developing a fiberglass‑boat recycling program but are seeking grant support to cover transportation costs for recyclables.
On funding, Poland recommended increasing boat registration fees to support the Michigan State Waterways Fund, which she said is underfunded and pays for more than 1,300 public launches, municipal marina grants and aging infrastructure. In response to a question from Representative Wirtz, Poland said some Waterways Fund dollars support waterway patrols but not aquatic invasive species prevention and that MBIA supports new, additional funding targeted at invasive‑species work rather than diverting existing waterways dollars.
Poland also described outreach and safety campaigns, the number of Michigan manufacturers and marinas, and partnerships with the DNR, EGLE and Michigan Sea Grant. Representative Wirtz and other members asked about proposed uses for new fees and AIS prevention measures.
What happens next: MBIA said it would be available to assist legislators and local officials on boating infrastructure and AIS prevention; the committee received the presentation as informational.
