MONROE — Port of Monroe officials and nearby industry leaders rolled out the red carpet for Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday, marking the first time the state’s top leader has visited the port in more than a decade.
Indeed, the last time a Michigan governor had stepped foot at the port was in 2010 when then-governor Jennifer Granholm to tour what was a weed-covered field that would become the future site of a $22 million turbine tower assembly plant Ventower Industries LLC.
Since then, the plant has replaced the field and the port has seen a resurgence in shipping, thanks to partnerships with DTE Energy to manage its output of synthetic gypsum using the port, along with increased shipment loads of salt, pipe, and wind-turbine parts, said Paul C. LaMarre III, the port’s director.
But what’s changed more recently is the state’s level of funding support for Michigan’s maritime industries. Roughly two years ago, Mr. LaMarre criticized the lack of state investment for Michigan’s 32 active cargo ports. Since then, the Port of Monroe has received $5 million in state funding last summer, which then helped the port leverage a more than $11 million grant in October from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
And so on Monday, Mr. LaMarre was singing a much different tune, often hugging the governor and thanking her for her support.
“It is likely that this is the first such visit by a Michigan governor to a port facility in recognizing the importance of Michigan’s maritime industry and port infrastructure that has ever occurred,” he said, standing at a podium before the governor, as well as a group of area business leaders and Monroe city officials.
“You led us through the storm of the pandemic, you recognize the importance of industry, you are my friend, you are our fearless leader, and I appreciate you and I can’t thank you enough for being here,” Mr. LaMarre later added.
For roughly 40 minutes, Mr. LaMarre took the governor on a tour by bus to locations throughout the port, showing her the various vessels that carry everything from loads of salt, pipe, and wind-turbine parts. He also took her to see the wind turbine tower made by the nearby Ventower Industries.
“Would you believe that where you are standing right now 10 years ago was overgrown with trees and an underutilized barren piece of property that wasn’t creating jobs or commerce,” Mr. LaMarre asked.
After the tour, Governor Whitmer said she couldn’t take full credit for the economic development for the area, or that of other ports, adding that she views her role now as putting her foot on the accelerator of what her predecessors put in place.
She added that support for industry has to be bipartisan and she read off comments made by Republican lawmakers who likewise supported Senate Bill 744 and House Bill 5291. They established the Maritime and Port Facility Assistance Grant Program Act to award grants to port facility owners and fund commercial port expansion.
“I am here to celebrate this huge investment that we’re making to make sure that this port thrives and grows,” Governor Whitmer said. “This is a day for celebration, not just because it’s beautiful out, or that the national title for the NCAA is going to be playing tonight, but because we are winning here in Michigan, and it’s because of all of you.”
Funding the Port of Monroe has received will go toward:
- Replacing the surface of the existing wharf.
- Constructing a second riverfront wharf to be used exclusively for vessel transfer of wind energy cargos and reinforcing shoreline stabilization.
- Rehabilitating the concrete dock cap, bollard, and fender installation, as well as replacing roughly 390 feet of failed sheet pile.
- Demolishing and rehabilitating an existing small boat slip to be used by harbor assist vessels.
- Removing existing overhead lines and providing shore power to the riverfront wharves.
After the governor departed, Mr. LaMarre said he hopes he and other attendees made an impact on proving to the governor the importance of the economic impact of the state’s water gateway to Lake Erie and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
“The port of Monroe is not about a single company, not about a single cargo vessel, it is about the people who work here,” he said. “And I think the most important thing to note is that investment in maritime infrastructure pays dividends — undoubtedly it is a good investment in the Great Lakes.”
First Published April 3, 2023, 10:05 p.m.
