From: Subject: Macomb County, MSU hatch tourism plan for Lake St. Clair | detnews.com | The Detroit News Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:31:30 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01CADFCD.007110A0" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01CADFCD.007110A0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://detnews.com/article/20100417/METRO03/4170350/-1/ARCHIVE/Macomb-County--MSU-hatch-tourism-plan-for-Lake-St.-Clair Macomb County, MSU hatch tourism plan for Lake St. = Clair | detnews.com | The Detroit News tyntVariables =3D {"ap":"From The Detroit = News:"};
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Last Updated: April = 17. 2010=20 3:07PM

Macomb County, MSU hatch tourism plan for Lake St. Clair

Charles E. Ramirez / The Detroit News

Harrison Township -- Lake St. Clair may not get much love as = the=20 little sister of the Great Lakes. But Macomb County officials are hoping = to draw=20 more attention to what they consider a neglected stop on Metro Detroit's = tourism=20 map.

The Board of Commissioners recently struck a deal with Michigan State = University to fund a position dedicated to marketing the lake for the = first=20 time.

"We have .... an asset here that's just been ignored for so long," = said=20 Commissioner Bill Crouchman, D-St. Clair Shores. "We've got a lot of = people who=20 pass (the communities in the county) on their way to Lake Huron, and = they don't=20 know what's available here. We're hoping this will change that." =

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As the county's Lake St. Clair Recreation and Tourism Program leader, = Kristen=20 Grifka will promote existing water-, recreation- and boating-related = businesses=20 along the shoreline, as well as attempt to lure new ones.

"The goal is to increase economic development, jobs, business growth = and=20 improve the quality of life in Macomb County," said Grifka, formerly = head of=20 Michigan State University Extension in Macomb County.

Under a three-year agreement, the county and the university are = splitting=20 Grifka's salary, about $73,730. MSU will contribute half, and 30 percent = will=20 come from the county's coffers.

The Board of Commissioners is hoping to get Macomb communities along = the lake=20 to kick in the rest. Harrison Township and the city of New Baltimore = have=20 already agreed to help pick up the tab for the marketing effort.

Chip Miller, president of Miller Marina on Lake St. Clair in St. = Clair=20 Shores, said he welcomes any help in promotion.

"Marinas primarily have been for boaters who live nearby," said = Miller, whose=20 family has owned the marina since 1934. "We would love to be able to = draw in=20 people from other states."

Also under the arrangement, Grifka will remain an employee of the = university=20 but consult with Stephen Cassin, director of the county's planning and = economic=20 development department.

Steve Remias, president of MacRay Harbor in Harrison Township, said = he=20 applauds the county's move. He also praised Harrison Township government = for=20 supporting it despite the economy.

"The lake is a resource where you can live, work and play," Remias = said. "But=20 it's underutilized and unknown. I think everyone is looking forward to = working=20 with (Grifka) to change that."

Grifka said she plans to meet with the leaders of communities along = the lake,=20 business owners and residents in the coming months to get their input on = promotions. Grifka also hopes to be able to land grants to extend the = program=20 beyond three years to turn Lake St. Clair into a tourism and recreation=20 destination, she said.

MSU tourism analyst Don Holecek said the county's idea "on the = surface sounds=20 like a good one."

"It'll all depend on what kind of plan the county comes up with for = tourism=20 around Lake St. Clair and how it's implemented," he said. "But hiring a = person=20 to promote Lake St. Clair makes sense.

"The lake isn't really well-known beyond the people who live near = it," he=20 said.

"If the county wants to turn tourism on the lake into an economic = driver, one=20 of the things it's going to have to do is to 'put it on the = map.' "

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