 | October 2006 edition |
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Marine Trades Services is now Boating Industry Services
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Heading to IBEX November 1-3? Come by our booth 822 and let us help you locate NC exhibitors that can meet or exceed your boat building and restoration product and supply needs. We will have our NC peanuts for your nourishment, the DOT NC Coastal Boating Guides, lists of our boat builders by location, and booth locations and information for the following NC exhibitors:
3 TEX; Accu-Form Polymers; Ameritex Technologies; Aplix; Ashley Welding & Machine Co.; Beta Marine Limited; C.E. Smith Company; Conbraco Industries; DNA Group Inc (Digital Switching Systems; Dustcontrol; Forest City Tool; Glen Raven Mills (Sunbrella®); Hickory Springs Manufacturing; HK Research Corporation; IPS Corporation (Weld-On); John Boyle & Company; King Marine; Lawrence Marine Novaflex); Lord Corporation; Morbern; Morse Industries; NC MARTEC; NCWaterways.com (Boating Industry Services); Odyssey Group; Outdura (Shuford Mills); Piedmont Plastics; Reichhold; Southtech Plastics; Tampco; Technicon Industries; tesa tape; The Gartner Group; Valtekz; Victory Bolt & Specialty; WATTS / Sea Tech.
Come by our booth 822 and we will have handouts identifying and locating our NC boat builders and our NC 2006 IBEX exhibitors (and NC peanuts). See www.ibexshow.com for complete show information.
Relocation Interest in North Carolina Continues
North Carolina has received continued interest from a dozen boat builders and a number of products manufacturers. The biggest draw for NC seems to be our Boating Industry Services and the NC Dept. of Commerce's partnership isn't partial to a particular city, county or region, but concerned that the company receives the appropriate incentive package, has access to the required workforce and has correct proximity to the resources and transportation needed by that company.
Next of importance to these companies is that we help cull the buildings and sites that meet the needs for that company and then work with those cities, counties and regions with the buildings and sites to identify a range of businesses and resources that can provide the services needed in building renovation, regulatory and permitting requirements, subcontracting services, etc. Then we set up site visits and the companies perform their due diligence. This usually takes from four to five months up to two years to complete and often results in a new-to-the-state businesses relocating here.
The initial calls received after each one of these relocation articles are from existing NC businesses wondering why we spend so much in state incentives to lure out-of-state businesses here when they are growing and expanding and don't receive similar attention and support. The state is interested in doing a better job, and has incentives for job growth and facility expansion. As for new businesses, these incentives are not normally grants, but are related to new jobs and new capital investment. So call us and talk to us about your plans and needs, the anticipated number of new jobs and investment, and the timeframe ... and then let us help you. Talk to me at IBEX booth 822 or call me after IBEX at 252-728-2144 (Mike Bradley).
North Carolina Closing Hotels and Gas Stations Along NC I-95?
You won't ever read the above headline, but the analogy is starting to ring true along our ICW, our sounds and our inland waterways. As we "condo-ize" and otherwise remove boating ramps, fueling locations, hurricane holes, boatyards that provide "on hand" hurricane safety, and at-water / out-of-water repair and restoration businesses, we are creating the I-95 equivalent of the above headline for our important transient boating traffic. NC isn't alone with this problem, but we should be very concerned and start taking steps to identify solutions.
Waterfront Access Study Committee
The Waterfront Access Study Committee (WASC) will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 20, 2006 in the Soundside Room of the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, 1 Roosevelt Blvd., Pine Knoll Shores.
NOTE: The Nov. 20 session is a working business meeting of the Committee, and time may not allow for statements from persons not included in the meeting agenda. The meeting is open to the public, but seating will be limited. Those wishing to make public comments before the committee are encouraged to attend the three (3) meetings to be held along the North Carolina coast in February and/or March 2007. These meetings, as set by law, will be for the specific purpose of soliciting and hearing comments/reactions by the public to the committee's draft report and recommendations.
The BoatU.S. Recreational Boating Access Award honors an individual, group, government body, business or non-profit organization that has succeeded in preserving or improving public waterway access. Judges will look at four criteria: 1) the challenges faced in retaining or increasing access in an area, 2) the direct impact or measurable results of the solution, 3) the level of success in increasing awareness of the issue in a community, and 4) "repeatability," the ability to take the successful approach and adopt it in other areas. Examples of solutions could include creative public/private partnerships, changes in land use planning or permitting processes, tax incentives, legislation or public ballots, publicity or public education. Eligible activities include those undertaken in the last three years.
The deadline to enter is February 1, 2007 and winners will be announced at the Working Waterways and Waterfronts - A National Symposium on Water Access to be held in Norfolk, VA May 9-11, 2007. For more, go to www.BoatUS.com/gov/AccessAward.
NC Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
The North Carolina Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (NC ESGR) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense. The committee works in partnership with NC employers to build higher community awareness of the vital role of our National Guard and Reserves, while building employer support for uniformed employees. The mission of ESGR is to gain and maintain support from all public and private employers for the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve (48% of our total force). Over 500,000 of America's 1.2 million Guardsmen and Reservists have been activated since 9/11/2001.
The NC ESGR would like to ensure that employers understand their vital role and to inform employers and their Guard and Reserve employees of their rights and responsibilities under the law. The ESGR website is www.esgr.mil. If you would like more information on the Statement of Support, you can use the above website or call 919 349-6140, an ESGR volunteer will contact you to explain the program.
Student and Employee Boat Building Training
Three New Marine Certification Courses at NC-MARTEC (www.ncmartec.org)
- Cold Molded Boat Building Certification Program
- Marine Diesel Certification Program
- Marine DC Electrical Certification Program
Read more for details about these programs...
Most Young People Entering the U.S. Workforce Lack Critical Skills Essential for Success
The above "numbing" headline is from a very thorough study showing:
Nearly three-quarters of survey participants (70 percent) cite deficiencies among incoming high school graduates in "applied" skills, such as professionalism and work ethic, defined as "demonstrating personal accountability, effective work habits, e.g. punctuality, working productively with others, time and workload management."
More than 40 percent of surveyed employers say incoming high school graduates hired are deficiently prepared for the entry-level jobs they fill. The report finds that recent high school graduates lack the basic skills in reading comprehension, writing and math, which many respondents say were needed for successful job performance.
Read on for more details about the study...
AMI and ABBRA Courses and Upcoming Activities
2006 Enrollment Open for Marina Manager Course
The International Marina Institute, a subsidiary of the Association of Marina Industries, is accepting enrollment for its Advanced Marina Manager program, scheduled for Dec. 4 - 9, 2006 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The course provides training in site planning, marina development, marina operation techniques, business strategies, risks and liabilities, environmental policies and other topics as preparation for IMI's "Certified Marina Manager" designation.
2007 International Marina & Boatyard Conference
The Association of Marina Industries (AMI) and the American Boat Builders & Repairers Association (ABBRA) will host the 2007 International Marina & Boatyard Conference. The event will take place at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, FL Jan. 28 - 31, 2007.
2007 Enrollment Open for Intermediate Marina Manager Course
The Intermediate Marina Management (IMM) Course is offered by IMI as a stepping stone to IMI's Advanced Marina Management Course. Completion of the IMM Course is a prerequisite for admission to the Advanced Course.
The course is offered on the following dates and locations: Nov. 5, 2006 - West Palm Beach, FL; Feb. 25, 2007 - Olympia, WA; Nov. 11, 2007 - Palm Beach Gardens, FL
For more information, visit www.marinaassociation.org and www.abbra.org.
John McKnight (NMMA) continues to be the McKnight in shining armor for the boating industry and is keeping us up to snuff on the latest developments on the E-20 issue. MSU (Minnesota) is conducting studies to evaluate the effect that ethanol has on automotive components, but they are also considering evaluating non-road components. The purpose of this testing is to determine if fuel C(E20)A (E20 fuel - 80% fuel C + 20% aggressive ethanol) will have a larger negative impact on fuel system plastics than fuel "C" ("C" Surrogate gasoline - "base" ASTM fuel "C" 50/50 toluene iso-octane mixture). The testing is going to be done in two phases that will test changes in volume/swell, weight, appearance, tensile, modulus of elasticity, and strain and then test the impact strength changes.
If you have any recommendations for plastics, metals or rubbers and elastomers that are used in marine fuel systems and not considered in the test protocol, please let me know. Also, if you have any comments on the test procedure, pass them on to John at 202-737-9757 or jmcknight@nmma.org.
Co-founder of Atlantic Marine Passes Away
Eugene (Gene) Floyd co-founder and former President of Atlantic Marine of Wrightsville Beach, N. C. passed away on August 28, 2006 after a lengthy period of poor health. Mr. Floyd was instrumental in getting the N. C. Marina Association organized and was a life-long boating enthusiast. Atlantic Marine continues under the management of his son, David, and the facility remains one of the scarce public access dry storage facilities in the region. Gene contributed much to his community over the years, serving for a time as Mayor of Wrightsville Beach and Deacon as well as Deacon Emeritus of his beloved Wrightsville Beach Baptist Church.
New Bern Site for 'Southbound Cruisers' Rendezvous
As you read this, fall leaves will be turning and transient boaters will be churning the waters along our coast heading south. The 2nd annual 'Southbound Cruisers' Rendezvous will begin Tuesday, October 24 thru Sunday Oct 29, 2006 with events held at the New Bern Farmer's Market. It has developed into a cruising event that may be worth your look. For information, go to www.ncgam.com/schedule.htm.
NC Beach, Inlet & Waterway Association to have November Meeting
NC Beach, Inlet & Waterway Association (NCBIWA) announced its 2006 annual conference, "Managing Coastal Sediment", as a look at ways to maximize a critical natural resource to the benefit of our beaches, inlets and the Intracoastal Waterway. The gathering will take place on Monday & Tuesday, November 13 & 14, beginning at 8:00AM each morning, at the Courtyard by Marriott Oceanfront Resort in Carolina Beach, NC. Registration and hotel information are online at www.ncbiwa.org.
AIWA Waterway's Economic Impact Conference November 15 & 16 in Wrightsville Beach
The future of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and its economic impact will top the agenda at the upcoming Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association's (AWIA) Annual Meeting to be held Thursday, November 16 at the Blockade Runner Resort and Conference Center in Wrightsville Beach, NC. "Working Together to Make a Difference" is the theme of this year's annual meeting.
Read on for details about the event and registration...
