Ohio's Lt. Governor, Lawmakers Attend Progressive Catawba Island Boat Show
Published: Wednesday, May 10, 2023 12:00 pm
By: Lake Erie Marine Trades Association
PORT CLINTON, OHIO --- Lt. Governor Jon Husted and a delegation of top lawmakers joined Ohio marine dealers on opening day of the Progressive Catawba Island Boat Show, April 28, 2023, to hear an update on the recently completed economic impact study of recreational boating in the Buckeye State.
It was the second boat show produced by the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association this year at which top elected state officials were in attendance including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine who has previously attended The Lake Erie Marine Trades Association’s Progressive Cleveland Boat Show in 2022.
Additional special guests at last week’s Progressive Catawba Island Show from the Ohio General Assembly were: Senators Theresa Gavarone, and Bill Reineke, along with Representatives Haraz Ghanbari and DJ Swearington. Glen Cobb, Chief of the Division of Parks & Watercraft, and Chief Legislative Officer for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Katie Hagarty, were also attendance.
The lawmakers applauded the just completed study that documents recreational boating in Ohio. It’s the first full update in more than 6 years. Specifically, the report documents boating now has an annual statewide economic impact of $6.4 billion.
Moreover, a report recently completed by the Boating Associations of Ohio entitled “Ohio Boating: A Wave of Employment and Enjoyment!” documents boating’s importance. For example, there are 20,300 good paying jobs in Ohio’s dealerships and marinas. And, another 24,400 indirect jobs are positively impacted by Ohio boating activities.
Ohio has 653,136 registered boats, ranking the state 6th in the America and those registered boats are estimated to take a whopping 36.3 percent of all Ohio residents out on-the-water at least once each year – that’s 187 million hours in registered boats with another 128 million estimated hours paddling non-motorized craft.
“All the positive data notwithstanding,” says Michelle Burke, LEMTA president, “it’s our top priority to show our lawmakers and regulators that Ohio boating not only makes big contributions to our quality of life, but makes an enormous impact on the economy as well”
“Boating is good for Ohio and Ohio is good for boating,” emphasizes Burke, “and we are grateful that our administration, lawmakers and regulators support our industry.
tags: Boat Show, Great Lakes, Lake Erie, Laws & Politics, Ohio
