3M dedicates sales revenue to Grow Boating fund
CHICAGO – 3M Marine will be dedicating a percentage of its annual sales to National Marine Manufacturers Association boat manufacturer members to the Grow Boating Initiative, NMMA said in a release yesterday.
The contribution is the first annual commitment made to the initiative and will help cover costs for the estimated $10 to $15 million that will be needed initially to fund the annual Grow Boating campaign.
“A half percentage point of all our sales to NMMA boat manufacturer members will be earmarked for the funds and distributed to NMMA at the end of the calendar year,” said Joseph E. Parks, business manager for 3M’s marine business.
3M manufactures a number of products for the marine market, including surface finishing, masking and protecting, all elements of safety and respiratory health, adhesives, chemicals and more. The company’s decision to contribute was made after Parks attended and was impressed by a presentation on Grow Boating made by NMMA President Thom Dammrich at IBEX.
“We wanted to demonstrate our support for the industry we work in, and believe that suppliers have a responsibility to promote their industry … we can benefit at least as much as our boatbuilding customers through increasing boating awareness and participation,” Parks said. “If we can get more suppliers to financially support the effort, we will be able to help raise the necessary funds to support the initiative and drive results.”
“3M has gone well above and beyond for the Grow Boating Initiative with their tremendous donation,” said Dammrich. “We will need other industry stakeholders to follow 3M’s lead and commit to an annual contribution to help make the Grow Boating Initiative a success.”
The list of contributors to the GBI Start Up Fund is updated daily on www.growboating.org.
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