Water access goals set by GBI committee

CHICAGO – Twenty-eight industry leaders recently met in Chicago to address the issues limiting water access and to discuss what role the Grow Boating Initiative will have in dealing with the situation, the National Marine Manufacturers Association said in a recent release.

The group determined that the GBI, a cooperative effort by the recreational boating industry to increase participation in boating, will focus on four areas that have the greatest impact on water access:

– Permitting
– Policy reform
– Land use issues (mixing access and development)
– Compiling data and outreach efforts to change access issues

With these focus areas in mind, the committee is researching and identifying specific tactics and strategies until it reconvenes Oct. 25-26 in Hollywood, Fla., just prior to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

“This is one of the most important issues facing our industry today,” Tom Errath, chair of the Grow Boating Water Access committee and general manager of Water Access at Brunswick, said. “In order to make a difference, it was imperative that the industry back the committee’s efforts, and judging by the number of members we have, it is clear we have the industry’s support.”

“The committee is working to narrow its focus, to make the industry’s efforts to grow boating as effective as possible,” said Jim Frye, president of the Association of Marina Industries and NMMA director of Marinas and Boating Access. “The meeting was an excellent first step, and the committee we have assembled is ready to take on these critical issues.”

The Water Access Committee is one of five committees developed for the Grow Boating Initiative to ensure that the industry meets the goals established for the campaign. The others are: Dealer Standards & Quality, Product Standards & Quality, Timely & Accurate Sales Statistics, Marketing/Communications and Funding committees.

For more information on the Grow Boating Initiative, contact Steve Tadd, NMMA Grow Boating director, at (312) 946-6246; stadd@nmma.org, or visit the Web site at www.GrowBoating.org.

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