County aims at boosting tourism, = recreation

From: Subject: County aims at boosting tourism, recreation Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 14:16:40 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01CAD726.1B714E60" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01CAD726.1B714E60 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://candgnews.com/Homepage-Articles/2010/04-07-2010/Macomb-County-tourism.asp County aims at boosting tourism, = recreation

County aims at boosting tourism, = recreation=20

By Julie Snyder
C & G Staff Writer

MACOMB COUNTY =97 Macomb County is taking steps toward = putting the=20 spotlight on tourism and the myriad recreational = opportunities=20 within Lake St. Clair=92s shoreline communities as a means = of boosting=20 economic development.

The first step was cleared on April 1, when Kristen = Grifka took=20 over as Lake St. Clair Recreation and Tourism Program = Leader.

Grifka, the Macomb County MSU Extension director, will be = working=20 as a liaison between the county, its communities and its = businesses=20 to help identify and examine untapped economic development, = tourism=20 and recreation opportunities to make the most of Macomb=92s = shoreline=20 cities.

=93This is exciting,=94 Grifka said. =93Promoting tourism = and=20 recreation on the lake =85 these are economic tools. In the = long term,=20 it creates additional businesses and jobs, and prevents = economic=20 downturn.=94

Grifka said with local support, including financial, she = will be=20 applying for grant dollars aimed at improving natural = resources and=20 economic stability.

She said Macomb County has a diverse kind of economy, = with the=20 film industry and improvements in recreational opportunities = like=20 the marinas and numerous bike baths attracting people from = outside=20 the area, and the shoreline keeping residents home on = =93staycations=94=20 rather than going away on a vacation.

Grifka said another one of her objectives is to = coordinate and=20 support existing efforts of local groups, chambers and = marinas.=20 =93It=92s about increasing commerce in the long run,=94 she = said. =93I don=92t=20 think it will be successful if it=92s not done with the key=20 stakeholders=92 involvement.=94

District 24 Macomb County Commissioner and former St. = Clair=20 Shores City Council member Michael Boyle said Grifka being = in the=20 new position is a good way to bring together all the = elements that=20 will assist economic and recreational development of the = area.

=93We=92ve been looking for a way to promote local = recreation,=20 tourism and our easy access to the water for quite a = while,=94=20 Boyle said. =93It=92s time we make a collective effort to = get the word=20 out on the great resource we have in our own = backyard.=94

The position is made possible through a partnership = between=20 Michigan State University, Macomb County, and local = municipalities:=20 St. Clair Shores, Harrison Township, Chesterfield Township = and New=20 Baltimore.

City leaders will be asked to provide financial support = to the=20 tune of $5,000 annually for the three years of the = program=92s tenure.=20 The county will fund $30,000 per year.

=93Having support from the local coastal communities is = essential=20 because everybody has a vested interest,=94 Grifka said. = =93Everyone=20 will benefit.=94

Stephen Cassin, = executive=20 director of the Macomb County Department of Planning and = Economic=20 Development, said the area will benefit on many levels from=20 marketing the lakefront access, from attracting additional=20 recreation opportunities to growing and attracting more = businesses=20 to the area.

=93We=92re looking forward to watching new partnerships = and=20 opportunity unfold as we help lakefront communities make = even better=20 use of their assets,=94 he said.

Grifka, who earned a master=92s degree from the = University of=20 Michigan, came to Macomb County from Washington, D.C., where = she=20 worked with national community and economic development = programs,=20 and helped develop a national community investment program = that=20 authorized over $2 billion in rural community = investments.

Grifka said she hopes to soon meet with local city heads, = elected=20 officials and members of the St. Clair Shores Tax Increment = Finance=20 Authority (TIFA) board to learn more about what they=92re = interested=20 in seeing accomplished to promote their areas, and what kind = of=20 financial support they can give to the program.

=93It=92s hard times for everyone,=94 Grifka said. =93But = $5,000 is a=20 drop in the bucket compared to all that we can=20 accomplish.=94

You can reach Staff Writer Julie = Snyder at jsnyder@candgnews.com or at=20 (586) 498-1039.

Copyright =A9 2008 C = & G=20 Publishing
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