Advocacy News – October 21, 2021
The Michigan Chamber testified in the House Transportation Committee this week in support of a bill that would help grow maritime infrastructure and waterborne supply chains in the state. House Bill 5291 would create the Maritime Port and Facility Improvement Office, as well as establish the Maritime Port and Facility Improvement grant program, to help bring economic development to Michigan’s 31 active ports. “We support this bill not because the Chamber has members that would benefit directly from its passage, but because we believe that advocating on behalf of our port infrastructure could hold significant down-stream benefits for Michigan’s business community,” said Mike Alaimo, Director of Environmental and Energy Affairs for the Chamber.
Studies have shown that nearly $400 billion of Michigan’s economic output and 1.2 million of its jobs are ‘freight dependent’ or reliant on the movement of goods. This is equivalent to roughly 20% of Michigan’s workforce. “Diversifying how we move goods in and out of the state can help alleviate kinks and reduce the amount of time and resources invested into reducing breakdowns in our supply chains.” The bill was reported out of the House Transportation Committee and now moves to the House floor for consideration by the entire chamber.
To learn more, please contact Mike Alaimo at malaimo@michamber.com.