MRAA, Dealer Profit Services Release ‘Guide to Creating a Compliance Process’

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, in partnership with Dealer Profit Services, has created a new resource for dealers looking to create a compliance process.

MRAA’s “Guide to Creating a Compliance Process” is a 30-plus page publication to ensure that marine retailers have the information, tools and processes in place to protect their businesses, team and customers.

“While we will have launched more than 100 dealer resources, tools and educational offerings by the end of the year, this guide is one of the most in-depth and robust that we’ve had the privilege to share,” says Liz Walz, MRAA’s Vice President. “It is an excellent example of the expertise and insight that MRAA has been able to tap into, thanks to fruitful relationships with generous, education-minded partners like Dealer Profit Services.”

The guide explains why having a compliance process is smart for business and offers real-life compliance “red-flag” examples for retailers to watch out for as well as sample language that can be used to create a compliance process.

“As a longtime Education Champion Partner with MRAA, we developed this Compliance Guide because we truly appreciate how hungry MRAA members are for continuous improvement and we recognize that Compliance is an area where there is often significant room for improvement” said Myril Shaw, Chief Operating Officer of Dealer Profit Services. “Based on our very well received Comprehensive Compliance Program Product, we hope to show our MRAA partner’s members how to ensure that Compliance shifts from being an event into being a process and thus demonstrate a ‘good-faith effort’ in the event that Compliance issues should occur.”

Further, the guide explains that not having an updated and effective compliance process that is referenced and adhered to daily may be putting your marine businesses at greater risk for fines and penalties if an issue were to arise.

The “Guide to Creating a Compliance Process” is an MRAA members-only publication available at MRAA.com/guides.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, contact us at 763-315-8043.

About Dealer Profit Services
As a premier F&I Services Provider, Trainer, Consultant, and Comprehensive Compliance Program supplier, Dealer Profit Services is about improving a dealer’s F&I profit and then providing the tools to ensure that profit is protected. As a Service Provider, Dealer Profit Services provides complete F&I services and delivers the industry leading F&I Profit Results. As Trainers and Consultants, we help dealers improve their in-house F&I departments. Through the Comprehensive Compliance Program, Dealer Profit Services provides an on-line, on-demand, Compliance Program with documents, training and tools to make F&I Compliance a process that helps protect the dealer against potential risks from compliance issues. Learn more by visiting dealerprofit.com, email info@dealerprofit.com, or call (470) 326-0966.

Infrastructure Bill Clears Senate, Budget Reconciliation to Follow

On Tuesday, the United States Senate passed the bipartisan infrastructure bill, H.R. 3864, by a vote of 69-30. This bill, totaling a $1 trillion investment in our nation’s infrastructure, includes many priorities and measures that will benefit the recreational boating industry. Just after passage, the Senate quickly shifted attention to the Budget Reconciliation process – voting 50-49 to adopt a $3.5 trillion budget blueprint.

The Senate passed infrastructure bill contains a variety of provisions key to the recreational boating community:

  • Reauthorizes the $750 million Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund — a user-pay, user-benefit system, and the backbone of aquatic conservation projects across the country.
  • $10 billion to support U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recreation infrastructure priorities. (Note: USACE manages 12 million acres of recreation lands and waters, with 256 million American visiting USACE managed recreation sites each year.)
  • $455 million annually for five years for the Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), which will allow significant improvements to port facilities on coasts, rivers, and the Great Lakes.
  • $7 billion for USACE infrastructure priorities, which includes funding for projects on storm damage reduction and coastal storm risk management.
  • $4.35 billion for Western water infrastructure, which will promote ecosystem restoration and make boating access more resilient across the West.

The House, which is out on recess and slated to return on Aug. 23, has set its sights on passing the Budget Reconciliation bill before passing the Infrastructure Bill as there is a Sept. 14 deadline. Although still skeletal and requiring further development, the Budget Reconciliation bill aims to expand Medicare, combat climate change, and boost federal safety net programs. Although this bill is broad in scope, there is a focus on coastal resiliency and funding for Small Business Administration programs, two items that will benefit the recreational boating industry.

Reconciliation, the process by which the $3.5 trillion budget is being moved, is a special procedure that makes legislation easier to pass in the Senate. Instead of needing 60 votes to exit the Senate, these bills only need a simple majority. Each year, Congress sets total spending, revenues, the surplus or deficit, and the public debt. Reconciliation directs committees to recommend changes in spending, revenues, deficits, and/or the debt limit. Next, committees are provided with buckets of funding and may choose to increase costs in some areas as well as reduce costs in others so long as the net budgetary effect of a committee proposals is in line with its instruction. These recommendations are then sent to the Budget Committee who then reports these to the House floor.

Reconciliation is currently still in its early stages and the bill will go through a variety of changes as both the House and Senate make edits throughout the process. MRAA will continue to provide updates on the bill and specific provisions that will benefit marine businesses and the recreational boating industry.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.

MRAA Adds 3 Staff to Support Certification, Advocacy, Member Benefits

MRAA recently added three new team members to better support the Marine Industry Certified Dealership program, industry advocacy and MRAA Member Benefits.

“Marine retailers have seen success in the past 18 months despite unprecedented conditions, and we have been proud to support them as they navigate uncharted waters,” said Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “Looking ahead, we see some clear areas where we think MRAA can offer solutions to what we believe will be the next set of market challenges, and these hires were made specifically with that in mind. We were lucky to find great teammates who embody the passion we have for this industry, and I look forward to further strengthening MRAA’s services for the industry moving forward.”

The new additions are:

Jake Kolling, Certification Sales Manager
Jake works closely with MRAA’s Certification team to continue to grow the program and get more dealerships Certified. Jake grew up in Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes, where his love of boating began at a young age. His previous experience building strong relationships with dealerships goes back to his time at Arctic Cat/Textron Specialist Vehicles, where he managed accounts, floor plan levels with Wells Fargo, and also sold parts, oil, garments and accessories. When he is not working, Jake enjoys fishing, hunting, ATVing, snowmobiling and spending time outdoors with his wife and son.

Chad Tokowicz, Government Affairs Manager
Chad is based in Washington, D.C., where he advocates for the priorities of marine dealerships. He previously served as the Inland Fisheries Policy Manager for the American Sportfishing Association, leading the association’s efforts at a state and federal level on a variety of issues impacting inland fisheries, conservation, natural resources and the tackle industry. Chad has additional experience on Capitol Hill, where he worked on the House Committee for Natural Resources and, prior to that, as a Government Affairs Intern at Trout Unlimited. He is a graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges where he graduated summa cum laude with a major in Environmental Studies and double minor in Political Science and Entrepreneurial Studies.

Jason Walz, Director of Programs
Jason leads the development of new MRAA programs and benefits, while strengthening existing offerings to increase the value of membership to the dealer community. He brings over 20 years of experience creating and growing manufacturers and dealers, solving problems, training, and caring for customers through roles in sales and sales management. In his free time, he’s often on a bike, a boat or by the water, spending time in the outdoors with his family and friends.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, contact us at 763-315-8043.

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Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Supports Boating, Help It Cross the Finish Line

WASHINGTON, DC, August 6, 2021 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas applauds the Senate for its work on the bipartisan infrastructure package that includes various priorities of the recreational boating industry.

After weeks of negotiations between Senators and the White House, The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is making its way to a vote on the Senate Floor. Referred to as an infrastructure package, this large bill totals $550 billion in new spending and will support a variety of infrastructure priorities from our nation’s waterways and roads to investments in clean energy and electric vehicles. Due to its large scope, this bill contains a variety of provisions that will benefit the recreational marine industry, including the efficient transportation of boats and making coastal communities more resilient.

“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that will only help bolster and grow our nations $170.3 billion recreational boating industry,” said Chad Tokowicz, Government Relations Manager for the MRAA. “Although the bill is in its final stages and is slated to be passed soon, we need your voice. Please encourage your Senator to support the bill.”

Action Alert: Please click here to tell your Member of Congress to support the recreational boating industry and invest in outdoor recreation infrastructure by supporting the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Of the $17 billion included for ports and waterways, MRAA and Boating United support the following measures:

  • Roughly $10 billion to support US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) infrastructure priorities, which includes a dedicated amount for repairing damages to USACE projects caused by natural disasters, helping to provide updates for key recreational areas;
  • $455 million annually for five years for the Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), which will allow significant improvements to port facilities on coasts, rivers, and the Great Lakes;
  • $5 million annually for five years for the Marine Highways Program funds, which will work to expand the use of America’s navigable waters and expand marine highway service options; and
  • $429 million for US Coast Guard infrastructure priorities, which includes funding for shore construction infrastructure and facility deficiency needs that the Coast Guard relies on to provide services and protect the public.

Furthermore, the comprehensive package will also reauthorize the $650 million Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, a user pay, user benefit program that is funded through excise taxes and import duties on fishing equipment and motorboat and small engine fuel. This program then funds conservation projects throughout the country such as boating access and fisheries projects. To learn more about this program please see MRAA’s past press release here.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas

At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.

Dealership Advantage Commits to MRAA as Education Champion

MINNEAPOLIS — August 3 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announces that Dealership Advantage has increased its commitment, becoming an Education Champion.

“We are extremely excited to further our relationship with the MRAA
 and the dealership community they support,” says Matt Toburen, Dealership Advantage CEO. “While our dealer management software platform has been a catalyst for our customers’ growth and increased profitability, we know that ongoing education is the
 foundation for dealers to continue to succeed. As the industry looks to deal with a post-COVID world, we are thrilled to be partnering with the MRAA team to bring more educational solutions to this industry.

Dealership Advantage is a leading Dealer Management Software (DMS) platform putting data and information in the hands of its users. DA is based on modern, mobile-first technology empowering customers to manage their business effectively from anywhere.
 Comprised of a team of software and industry experts headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., Dealership Advantage combines their industry expertise with a modular DMS offering including Sales, CRM, Parts Inventory Management, Service, and Rentals modules
 to help customers increase revenues, margins and service efficiencies.

Dealership Advantage, who joined MRAA as a Partner Member in 2020, has matured from its boat dealer roots into a nurturing resource for dealers, by offering them flexible
 and uncomplicated solutions that can generate higher margins and improved workflows. As Education Champion, Dealership Advantage can help dealers streamline operations, build a devoted customer base and enrich employee satisfaction by installing more
 efficient systems and processes.

Through Partner Membership, marine manufacturers, suppliers and service providers can align their brands with the MRAA programs, including education and training, to effectively reach the dealer body and
 fuel success within the industry. Support from Partners enables the Association to expand its offerings and create a positive, long-term impact in the business of MRAA members.

“We are thrilled to have Dealership Advantage step up as an
 Education Champion by supporting the educational efforts and programming offered by the MRAA,” says Allison Gruhn, MRAA Director of Business Development. “Again, it’s rewarding for our members to have their needs met by an organization with marine
 industry roots and knowledge of its underpinnings. Dealership Advantage’s expertise with software and DMS is very solid.”

About Dealership Advantage
Dealership Advantage is a well-funded, fast-growing software and services
 company located in the Riverview Building near downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Carefully designed to make a dealer’s life easier, Dealership Advantage is a dealer management software platform providing Sales, Service, Parts Management, Rental
 Bookings, and Analytics accessible from any browser without requiring on-site installation. We build software for the marine, watersports and powersports industries. The company also provides Financing and Aftermarket Sales to dealerships
 as a third party, making them an all-in-one solution. Our specialties include: Technology, Marine, Marina Management Software, Dealer Management System, Boat Dealer Software, Financing, Financial Service, Aftermarket Products, Marina Management System,
 Dealer Consulting and Marine Software. For more information, visit  www.dealershipadvantage.com or contact us at 616-210-1060.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas

At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and
 healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at
 763-315-8043.

Small Business Administration Streamlines Paycheck Protection Program Forgiveness with Direct Portal

In efforts to streamline Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness the Small Business Administration (SBA) has created a new portal which will allow borrowers to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA.

The new forgiveness platform, which will go live on August 4th, 2021, was created to help small businesses get relief as fast as possible. The portal can be used by any businesses with loans less than $150,000 provided through participating lenders. According to FederalPay.org, a free public resource for U.S. government employees, businesses that classified themselves as boat dealers accounted for 3,914 PPP loans totaling more than $340 million, as of December 1, 2020. The average PPP loan taken by a business classified as a boat dealer was $86,846, and 84.6 of those businesses received loans amounting to less than $150,000. Furthermore, over 600 banks have opted in to participate in the direct forgiveness program, enabling over 2.17 million borrowers to apply for direct forgiveness.

“It is great to see the SBA doing what they can to take the burden off of small businesses during these difficult times,” said Chad Tokowicz, Government Relations Manager for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “Allowing loan forgiveness to go directly through the SBA and not a bank will save our members and other businesses in the boating industry time, which is at a premium at this point of the season.”

The SBA is also setting up a PPP customer service team to answer any questions and assist borrowers directly with their forgiveness applications. If you are in need of assistance or simply have questions, please call have questions should call (877) 552-2692, available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST.

The Direct Forgiveness Portal can be accessed here and additional information and instructions on how to use the portal can be found here.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, contact us at 763-315-8043.

Dealer Week announces keynote: Build Resilience in Uncertain Times

Several key themes for this year’s Dealer Week, the annual MRAA conference and expo, will be explored during the opening keynote titled “Build Resilience in Uncertain Times: Strategies to Help Your Team Overcome Anxiety, Recover from Burnout and Get Stuff Done.”

The session, scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 7, in Austin, Texas, will be presented by leadership coaches Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton, authors of the recent book “Anxiety at Work,” which explores the causes of workplace stress and the management practices that have proven successful in reducing tension and cultivating calm.

This special opening keynote is packed with practical strategies you can use to boost your team’s resilience, reduce their anxiety and increase their productivity.
In it, Gostick and Elton will answer questions like:

  • As a manager, how do you keep up with demands while creating a low-stress work atmosphere?
  • How can you spot rising anxiety levels in your people?
  • If your employees feel overwhelmed or worried about the future, what can you do to ease their concerns?
  • How do you engage in productive conversations in uncertain times?

The dynamic duo will apply their vast knowledge and experience working with the leadership teams of some of the world’s most successful organizations to offer you effective strategies that can make any workplace better, helping dealership leaders and their employees:

  • Weather uncertainty;
  • Balance overload;
  • Beat perfectionism;
  • Build confidence;
  • Foster resilience;
  • And strengthen performance.

At the end of this high energy, actionable presentation, you’ll walk away with a guide to putting these strategies to work in your business. View a video of Gostick and Elton previewing their keynote here.

Dealer Week takes place Dec. 6-9 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. Registration is now open at DealerWeek.com. Earliest bird pricing for the conference ends July 31.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, contact us at 763-315-8043.

Rollick and Kenect Integrate to Enhance Online Buying for Recreation Dealers

Rollick Inc., a relationship marketing technology provider for the Marine, Powersports, and RV industries, today announced a partnership with Kenect, a rapidly growing provider of business texting and communications technology. Beginning in August, Kenect’s popular Text Lead and Text-to-Pay solutions will be integrated into RollickDR, the company’s new digital retailing solution, and will soon be integrated into the GoRollick Marketplace platform.

“We’re always looking for ways to provide a more seamless ecommerce experience for our dealer partners, OEM clients, and loyal buyers of our exclusive network of affinity membership groups,” said Bernie Brenner, CEO of Rollick. “Kenect is the leading text marketing and payment solution in the industry and a natural partner for Rollick. We are two valuable platforms joining forces to bring even more innovation to the recreation industry.”

Dealerships in Rollick’s network receive Reserve Now functionality at no additional charge through the end of 2021 to address the unprecedented demand and shortage of inventory. Those that work with Kenect can now include credit card down payments via Kenect’s Text-to-Pay functionality within the RollickDR Reserve Now feature.

“We immediately received consistent positive customer feedback on the text payment function after signing up with Kenect’s Text-to-Pay in 2020,” said Kyle Blackwell, Sales Manager of Fun Bike Center Motorsports. “In addition to the increased customer satisfaction, our employees saw vast improvement in efficiency and time management. We also see greater customer engagement and quality within Rollick’s tools. It’s fantastic that Kenect and Rollick have joined forces so we can now leverage this functionality within the RollickDR solution.”  

“All of Rollick’s and Kenect’s overlapping dealers will have the opportunity to use Kenect’s solutions through Rollick with no additional integration costs,” said Shaun Sorensen, Co-Founder and CEO of Kenect. “We are very excited by this integration given Rollick’s leadership in helping recreation brands and dealerships meet the expectations and needs of today’s shoppers.”

Overlapping dealers in Rollick’s and Kenect’s dealer network can begin to take advantage of the integration in August. The companies will additionally work together into the future to market each other’s products to their respective dealers through joint sales and marketing efforts. To learn more, contact https://gorollick.com/company/lets-talk.

Basta Boatlifts Joins MRAA as Partner Member

MINNEAPOLIS — July 27 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announces Basta Boatlifts has joined as a Partner Member.  

“The MRAA is an invaluable tool for boat dealers, providing in-depth training and resources. We whole-heartedly
 support its mission and believe what it offers members strengthens the marine industry and adds to the enjoyment customers get from boating,” said Bryce Hansen, Owner and President, Basta Boatlifts. “At Basta Boatlifts we are passionate about quality
 and know we can add a product line to dealers that will complement their current offerings. Customers expect the best of everything when purchasing a high-end boat or watercraft; why should their boat lift purchase be any different?” 

Basta Boatlifts Basta Boatlifts began as a family of dock builders on a mission to build things better. Industry innovations started small, with solar-powered boat lift remotes and small PWC lifts. In 1993, Basta forever changed the industry with the creation of
 the Over-Center™ gravity locking design on a hydraulic-powered boat lift. Basta is the only manufacturer to give customers a choice of material for their boat lift: aluminum or galvanized steel. The aluminum lifts feature custom extrusions, while
 the galvanized steel lifts offer enhanced protection and stability for docks in deep and rough water. Most Basta lifts feature a single-cylinder design that offers smoother motion, full-contact bushings at every pivot point to absorb stress and wear,
 and the thickest rubber bunks to support a vessel’s running surface.  


“We’re active members of the WSIA and the Seattle Boat Show Committee, and sponsors of grassroots watersports events such as the Thigh High Wake Series,” added Hansen. “Basta understands current demand and supply chain challenges are disrupting dealers’ normal
sales cycle in the U.S. For those looking for another profitable revenue source, adding Basta to their portfolio might make sense.”


Marine manufacturers, suppliers and service providers, through Partner Membership, commit to aligning their brands with the programs and opportunities that MRAA works to provide the dealer body in order to help fuel the success of the industry.
 Support from Partners allows the Association to expand its offerings and create a positive, long-term impact in the business of MRAA members.


“We’re excited to add Basta Boatlifts as a Partner Member with the MRAA,” said Allison Gruhn, Director of Business Development. “We value its support, as it will help MRAA continue to supply valuable resources and educational tools to help dealers find
 more success and earn their customers’ trust.”

About Bast Boatlifts
Basta Boatlifts is the leader in hand-crafted hydraulic boat lifts, seaplane lifts and PWC lifts. Its product line includes fabrication in both proprietary aluminum and galvanized steel. Known as the originators
 of the Over-Center™ gravity locking design that changed the boat lift industry, we continue to lead the market. Basta Boatlifts is a privately held company headquartered outside of Seattle, Washington. For more information, visit
 bastaboatlifts.com or contact us at 1-866-462-2782.



About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must
thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit
MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.

MRAA Member Testifies Before U.S. Congress, Asks for Passage of PREPARE Act

Marine Retailers Association of the Americas member Rick Chapman, General Manager of The Port of Sunnyside Club, Inc., testified this week before the Small Business Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations and advocated for the passage of the Providing Resources for Emergency Preparedness and Resilient Enterprises (PREPARE) Act.

The hearing, titled “SBA’s Role in Climate Solutions,” explored how the Small Business Administration can facilitate access to capital for climate change mitigation investments and resilience efforts. The hearing highlighted various federal programs and services, which can support small businesses, while also looking at areas in need of improvement. The boating industry is no stranger to these impacts, as facilities like marinas and dealerships are prone to extreme weather events and gradual sea level rise.

“2020 was the sixth-consecutive year in which 10 or more billion-dollar weather and climate disaster events have impacted the United States,” said Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Government Relations Manager Chad Tokowicz. “This increase has a direct impact on the small businesses that help drive economic recovery. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that those small businesses are equipped to protect themselves from the existential threat that disasters pose.”

During the hearing, Chapman highlighted how investment in the resilience of marine business is critical for his marina, which is based on the St. Croix River in Stillwater, Minn., to stand the test of climate change. He highlighted how Minnesota is impacted by a variety of extreme weather ranging from drought and floods, to extreme heat and tornados, while underscoring the need to address these weather events before they happen and build resilient business infrastructure.

“To accomplish this, Congress should include language from the Providing Resources for Emergency Preparedness and Resilient Enterprises (PREPARE) Act in the resiliency title of any infrastructure package that moves forward to allow small businesses to access much-needed capital to invest in disaster-resilient infrastructure” Chapman noted in his testimony. “This landmark legislation would allow the SBA to make low-interest, fixed-rate loans of up to $500,000 to small businesses to invest in their properties to protect facilities, real estate, and contents from natural disasters.”

While the SBA does have disaster loans for businesses to use after extreme weather or natural disasters, there are currently no programs to help businesses to protect their businesses in preparation of these types of events. This legislation will be instrumental in helping the boating industry, as well as others in the outdoor recreation space, protect their businesses and investments from climate change. Please head to the Boating United Action Alert and ask your representative to cosponsor this important piece of legislation.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, contact us at 763-315-8043.