Page 3 - Mid America Boating - September/October 2023 issue

Boating plays a big role at Ohio lawmakers and business leaders from
Ohio Chamber Conference
Ohio lawmakers and business leaders from throughout the state gathered at a
recent Ohio Chamber of Commerce Policy Conference held in Sandusky.
Catawba Moorings, Clemons Boats, Pier 53,
throughout the state gathered at the recent South Shore Marine, Skipper Buds and True
Ohio Chamber of Commerce’s Policy Confer- North Yacht Sales.
ence held in Sandusky, and boating was a
“We were pleased to have 20 lawmakers on
major feature for attendees. board, including key members of House and
The Ohio Marine Trades Association Senate Leadership,” Burke noted, “and we also
(OMTA) organized and sponsored the recre- had former Ohio Lt. Governor Mary Taylor
ational boating activity, showcasing the aboard. Plus, area leaders from CedarFair and
Lake Erie Islands area by taking conference Shores & Islands Ohio joined us, too.”
attendees on a cruise from Saw Mill Creek to While on South Bass Island, the group
Put-in-Bay. spent time visiting local businesses and
“It was a perfect sunny day with superb checking out some special exhibits that were
lake conditions,” recalls Michelle Burke, also on the island as part of Lake Erie Aware-
OMTA executive director, “and many of the ness Day, a separate event that was being 3 [ MID-AMERICA BOATING ] SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
people aboard our boats said they were in held there simultaneously.
awe of the boats and the experience. And Finally, all participants received a copy
that was our goal – for them to taste our of “Boating Means Big Business In Ohio,”
boating lifestyle!” an economic impact study just released
OMTA member dealers that donated one by OMTA that updates just how extensive
or more boats, time and their local expertise and popular recreational boating is in the
to make the afternoon a success included: Buckeye State at $6.4 billion annually. MAB
Boating’s impact in Ohio…
Boating brings big business to Ohio. A recent study shows the state’s boating
industry produced an economic impact of $6.4 billion in 2022. According to the
study, published by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of
Parks and Watercraft, the boating industry also accounted for 45,856 jobs.
“The boating industry lifts up the economy for local communities all across
Ohio,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “The boost ripples out from the water and
into local business, while supporting jobs all along the shores, from marinas and
boat dealers on the coast, to restaurants and hotels further inland.”
See Boating’s impact on next page