Big Thunder Marine announces new location in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Big Thunder Marine announces new location in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., with a focus on Fountain Center Consoles.

“Big Thunder has done a great job representing Iconic Marine Group (parent company of Fountain) at Lake of the Ozarks, I’m excited for what they can do on the East Coast of Florida,” says Fred Ross, Owner of Iconic Marine Group. “Nothing handles the rough water like a Fountain, and with the level of service Big Thunder provides we believe we can elevate the overall customer experience in Florida”

Big Thunder is staffed in Florida by Tim McNutly in Sales and Randy Patterson in Service. Both local Palm Beach area residents that have been in the marine business for many years, with a focus on the overall customer experience. Fountain Center Consoles, along with the new Donzi 41GTZ and Donzi Classics will be in stock at the very unique location of PGA Marina – right on PGA Blvd and on the Inter-Coastal Waterway in the heart of Palm Beach Gardens. Complimentary brands are being considered for the location as well. Our full inventory can be viewed at bigthundermarine.com.

“There really isn’t anything like PGA Marina and the amazing location, and I’m pleased we are able to represent Fountain for the East Coast of Florida,” says Jeremy Anderson, General Manager of Big Thunder Marine. “I look forward to taking our elevated customer experience success we’ve had at Lake of the Ozarks and expand our reach into Florida.”

Big Thunder at PGA Marina is open now, and is located at 2359 PGA Blvd, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410.

To get in touch locally in Palm Beach Gardens, both Randy and Tim can be reached at 561-345-3998 or randy@bigthundermarine.com and timmcnulty@bigthundermarine.com.

An Open House is currently being planned for July. For more information, please visit https://www.bigthundermarine.com/florida/

How to plan for success in 2021

Every year the market place throws a mix of new challenges at you and your business. Whether they’re personnel changes, technological obstacles, product line updates or evolving customer or partner preferences, they change the dynamics of how you approach selling and servicing boats.

 

With little-to-no warning, the boating industry changed forever with the health crisis that overwhelmed the early part of 2020. Who would have ever imagined that the next economic slowdown would have required you to run your brick-and-mortar operation out of your home? What could have ever prepared you for curbside pick-up, relationship building from a distance, or by-appointment-only, virtual boat closings? And who could have predicted that the shift to the digital sales and service process that you’ve slowly been coming around to would need to be made literally overnight?

 

The boat retail market place has never been an easy one to manage, and today, it is more complicated than ever before. There are more uncertainties, regulations, and consumer-related obstacles than our businesses have ever even considered.

 

That won’t stop boating from maintaining its place as the No. 1 choice among family-focused recreational options, however. And it doesn’t have to prevent you from achieving the success you and your team deserve.

 

For nearly five decades now, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has fought for the advancement of boat and engine dealers and the marine industry at large. We have stood alongside dealers as we battled unwarranted laws, regulations and restrictions, and we have provided dealerships with critical guidance as they faced ever-changing market conditions, technological advancements, and yes, even the once-unfathomable requirements of evolving customer desires.

 

As we navigate through the chaos of 2020, everything has changed, but nothing has changed. Our team here at the MRAA — a seasoned group whose leadership team not only navigated The Great Recession with you, but who also delivered immense value throughout the challenges of the last 20 years, not to mention the last 20 weeks — remains right by your side. No matter what the world throws at us.

 

Last week, MRAA opened registration for Dealer Week 2020. This event offers you the clearest path to navigating the complexity and uncertainty of your market place. It is the must-attend event of 2020, if not of your entire career, as it will set you up for success in 2021 and beyond.

 

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Dealer Week attendees create their plans for the year ahead with the help of 
educational courses, industry experts, dealer colleagues and MRAA partners.

 

 

In partnership with our Board of Directors, our Young Leaders Advisory Council, our Strategic Partners and our Education Champions, we are building the most powerful MRAA educational event ever. Dealer Week 2020 will guide you through today’s new realities and tomorrow’s questions. It will share the most meaningful insights, trends, analysis, best practices and strategies specific to your business. Dealer Week will deliver the answers you need in order to have confidence in your plan for 2021 because we know that the growth, success and prosperity of your family, your business, and your team are of utmost importance.

 

MRAA remains full speed ahead on Dealer Week 2020. And no matter if the in-person event can go on, as planned, for Dec. 8-11 in Austin, Texas, or we need to deliver this critical educational event through a virtual experience — and I do mean experience … not just some glorified webinar — I promise you that the MRAA will be there for you to answer the call. We’re ready for both scenarios.

 

Your business needs you to prepare for whatever the market place presents in the year ahead, as well. The pillars of success for today’s boat dealerships are changing. Let us help you change with them. Get started at Dealer Week 2020. Register today.

Discover Boating, Take Me Fishing Launch “Get On Board” Marketing Campaign

Industry-wide effort to help Americans find the safe, restorative power of boating and fishing amid COVID-19

src=Following the late April announcement of their joint effort to unite the industry around a national marketing campaign, today, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s Take Me Fishing brand and the recreational boating industry’s Discover Boating brand launched “Get On Board.” As summer kicks off and states begin to safely reopen amidst COVID-19 and stress is on the rise across America, the campaign aims to help more Americans experience the restorative health and wellness benefits of recreational boating and fishing.

“Many Americans are looking for ways to get outdoors safely this summer. What’s more, research reveals fishing and boating have proven health benefits,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “As our industry looks to regain its footing during the global pandemic, uniting around a campaign that conveys the ability of boating and fishing to provide stress relief, a vacation close to home, and the ability to connect with loved ones, is a message that’s needed more than ever.”

This first-time collaboration between Take Me Fishing and Discover Boating has the two brands pooling resources to bring the new campaign to life after coronavirus interrupted their previous, individual plans for the summer. Helping to solidify the campaign’s success is engagement from across the industry in helping spread the word that the water is open and we’re all invited to “Get On Board.” RBFF, the National Marine Manufacturers Association and the Marine Retailers Association of America are working with the American Sportfishing Association, BoatUS, the Water Sports Industry Association, Association of Marina Industries, Sea Tow, marine trade associations and many others. With these groups reaching countless active and future boaters and anglers, the campaign will be amplified like never before.

The campaign will feature a public service announcement that will air on television and radio, online advertising, social media, and public relations—all of which target local areas with an emphasis on responsible recreation.

Fishing and boating industry stakeholders are encouraged to use the campaign’s hashtag #TheWaterIsOpen as well as the new PSA video, boating and fishing lifestyle imagery, website banner ads, and sample social posts which can all be found in an online toolkit here, to help amplify the message.

In addition to these customizable assets for all fishing and boating stakeholders, MRAA is leading the effort to customize the Get On Board digital ads, social media assets and videos for dealerships and marinas across the United States. These free customized materials can include their company logo, website and other company-specific information. These customized materials will be created and distributed to members of the MRAA, AMI and the dealership members of the WSIA; other small marine businesses not affiliated with those organizations can complete a materials request form located here.

“Our industry’s dealers have built great momentum in getting customers on the water through the latter part of the 2020 selling season, and we believe this campaign will contribute to carrying that momentum through the remainder of the year,” said MRAA President Matt Gruhn. “Having access to high-quality, customized marketing materials will help our industry’s small businesses amplify the ‘Get On Board’ messaging and strengthen the sentiment for boating and fishing that so many consumers are already acting on.”

Take Me Fishing and Discover Boating are continuing to see significant gains in web traffic over the last three months, indicating a steady growth in consumer interest in boating and fishing. This makes the campaign timely as it continues driving people to TakeMeFishing.org and DiscoverBoating.com to find helpful resources and tools to learn, explore and find ways to go boating and fishing this summer and how to do so responsibly during COVID-19.

“The outdoors has never been a better place for Americans to find respite during these uncertain times. With health officials encouraging people to go outside, boating and fishing provide a valuable combination of mental health benefits paired with social distancing that naturally allows people to recreate responsibly,” said NMMA President Frank Hugelmeyer. “This powerful collaboration gives our industry the chance to unify our voice and invite everyone to experience the restorative and healing benefits of being on the water.”

Campaign details and toolkits for Take Me Fishing and Discover Boating can be found here and here. Please contact RBFF’s Stephanie Vatalaro at svatalaro@rbff.org or Discover Boating’s Ellen Bradley at ebradley@nmma.org with questions.

9 Tasks Your Techs Shouldn’t Be Doing

It has been such a delight to hear from every dealer who I’ve spoken with over the last couple of months tell me about their record pace for sales and service, in addition, to the amount of new business coming from new boaters. New blood is what this industry has needed and talked about for years. It’s our opportunity to grow in unit sales and not just dollars.

 

Now that this silver lining has appeared from the dark clouds, we need to shift gears and manage the capacity needed to keep these new boaters in the lifestyle.

 

What are your customers hearing from your staff? Are they needing to apologize for crazy long wait times? I can hear it now, “sorry” it took so long, or “sorry” we couldn’t help you; we’ve been bombarded with customers buying and wanting their boats serviced. I see the cog in the wheel having the ability to service the boats before and after the sale. There aren’t any quick remedies coming that will produce experienced technicians. All the answers for more techs are to grow your own. So, is your dealership operating as it did prior to this burst of business?

 

In addition to being a lifelong boater, I’m also an avid cyclist. Boat dealers aren’t the only dealers realizing this surge of business. Bike shops are dealing with an overwhelming demand for sales and service. This may sound like a good problem to have, but is it? What if this is the first-time folks are coming to your business wanting to purchase or get service and you can’t deliver?

 

My bike is closing in on a year old and it is time for a tune up, so I stopped into two bike shops over the weekend. Here’s a quick review of the two experiences:

 

Bike shop 1: Three technicians, still operating the way they did prior to the pandemic, except for the crowd-management, theater-style ropes they installed outside for people who enjoy 90 degrees and 90% humidity. They’re operating the same way they always operated… A customer walks in to pick up his bike, one tech stops working on a bike, goes to the counter, greets the customer, gets the bike, works the POS to retrieve the bill, and takes payment. Meanwhile, customers with broken bikes are being told from a distance, “we are slammed and backed up three weeks.” 

 

Bike Shop 2: Four techs working in two workstations. The team member who is normally at the drink bar is at the register taking money and returning bikes while all the techs keep turning wrenches!

 

It’s a much different feel in Shop 2, especially when I asked a customer how long it took to repair his bike, “Three days!” I’m certain that the desire for bikes will not maintain this level, but Bike Shop 2 will be taking advantage of this surge long after the need is over. 

 

Are boat dealers looking for ways to keep their techs focused on getting their jobs completed? Take a minute and run a quick check in your mind. Are your techs doing anything that doesn’t require their skill and expertise, such as:

  1. Looking for and moving boats to and from their workspace;
  2. Looking up and running for parts;
  3. Looking for keys;
  4. Interpreting poor write-ups;
  5. Completing paperwork;
  6. Reassembling boats after the mechanical repair is complete;
  7. Having to move boats out of their workspace due to no customer authorization;
  8. Working ridiculously long hours that leads to burn out;
  9. Cleaning their workspace.

 

Boat dealers live this seasonal work style every year and plan for it, but this year, they might need to start thinking of additional ways to adjust their processes to reduce wasted time, improve efficiency, and figure out how to do it while injecting some fun. In addition to the fun, everyone at the dealership should be getting rewarded with praise and bigger paychecks.

 

MRAA recently hosted industry expert Valerie Ziebron for insights into this topic and more in an Ask The Expert Webinar titled “How to Make the Best of the Mad Rush in Service.” Did you miss it?  No problem, watch or listen anytime at MRAA.com/MRAAwebinars.

Why the boater experience is more important than ever

Well, we got our wish. For the last decade, or maybe longer, we’ve been gasping at how the average age of our boat buyers has increased by about 8 or 9 months every single year. The same people who were leading the boat-buying parade in the 80s are still the ones buying boats today.

 

Where are the Millennials or GenXers, we asked? Where are the first-time boat buyers? It’s been a real concern.

 

The data today suggests that the top of the boat buying funnel is overflowing with prospects. Leads are off the chart, dealers are reporting that they’re busier than they’ve ever been. And lenders like MRAA Partner Member Vantage Recreational Finance are reporting a “tremendous amount of first-time boat buyers entering the marketplace.”

 

So, we got our wish. The first-time boat buyers are here. Now, the question becomes: What are you doing to make sure they are not simultaneously final-time boat buyers, as well?

 

If history has its say, we’ve got a lot of work to do to improve the boat buying and ownership experience and keep boaters on the water. According to a study publicized last year, nearly 40 percent of first-time boat buyers sell their boat and don’t replace it within five years of original purchase. From 2013 through mid 2018, that meant that 148,000 first-time boat buyers were one-and-done and opted out of boating. That’s equal to about 50 percent of the total power boats that are sold in any given year.

 

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Of the 380,000 people who bought a boat in 2013, 39%
(or 148,000) sold and did not replace their boat by mid 2018.

 

 

 

Dealers have control of this situation. We know from our friends at Rollick, who administer the industry customer satisfaction surveys that, A. Of all the dealer-specific CSI factors, the Overall Purchase Experience has the highest correlation to overall boat (the product) satisfaction; and B. Of ALL CSI factors, the question “would you recommend this dealer?” has the highest correlation to overall boat satisfaction. In both instances, it’s clear that the experience at the dealership drives product satisfaction.

 

In a nutshell, according to Rollick, this means that the customer’s happiness with the dealer can override dissatisfaction with the product, and a customer who is upset with their dealer is more likely to walk away from the boat brand. And, as it turns out, they’re also more likely to walk away from boating, altogether: In a survey of consumers who had almost purchased a boat but stopped short and walked away from the purchase indefinitely, 66 percent noted they had not had a helpful experience at the dealership.

 

So, as consumers choose boating at an increasing rate, we need to ensure that we are providing a rewarding, memorable sales and ownership experience, or we risk losing them forever. With this surge expected to continue into 2021, now’s our chance to truly grow boating. Let’s make sure we deliver an experience worth recommending and coming back for so that the momentum continues for years.

Dealer Week Opens With Lowest Rate, Attendee Guarantee

MINNEAPOLIS – June 10, 2020 – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas opened dealer registration today for Dealer Week 2020, to be held Dec. 8-11 in Austin, Texas, with a month of reduced rates, and a three-fold guarantee for attendees: Dealer Week will take place in 2020; if anyone attends and doesn’t learn anything they can implement, they will receive a full refund; and if health concerns prevent them from attending in-person, their registration will easily transfer to a virtual event experience with the same powerful education.

Dealers can register here.

Dealers faced unprecedented levels of uncertainty throughout the 2020 model year. Across the industry, dealers saw a slight slowdown last summer as the model year kicked off, a rapid acceleration in activity early this year, and then a chaotic start to boating season as the coronavirus pandemic impacted businesses, workplaces and consumers across North America. Still, many dealers reported strong leads, sales and service demands throughout late spring. As an answer to the challenging market swings, the 2020 Dealer Week educational programming is being designed to not only help dealers navigate the changing marketplace, but to help them move into the months ahead with greater confidence and clarity on the decisions they should be making and the adaptations they should consider for their business.

“The MRAA team stepped up to guide our dealers through the uncertainty that plagued early 2020, producing an incredible number of critical webinars, publications and key resources,” said MRAA President Matt Gruhn. “Now, we have turned our focus to creating an educational event to offer dealers practical guidance to set themselves up for greater levels of success. In that way, I believe Dealer Week 2020 will be the most important conference we’ve ever produced and one that every dealer will need to attend in order to navigate the months and years ahead with confidence.”

Dealer Week is a three-and-a-half day educational and networking event designed to give dealers insights, strategies, best practices and business solutions to help them strengthen their businesses. The annual conference of the MRAA, Dealer Week has hosted as many as 30 educational sessions and more than 100 exhibits and is designed as a platform to connect dealers and suppliers with one another.

The MRAA is moving full-speed ahead with the in-person event, through a multi-fold approach. First, MRAA is working closely with the Austin Convention Center and is closely monitoring other large industry events to learn and implement best practices to keep attendees safe. Simultaneously, MRAA has invested in an industry-leading virtual event experience that will provide new pathways for learning, networking and the delivery of business solutions to not only expand the reach of this event but also to ensure that the critical content and connections will remain accessible to dealers no matter what health concerns dictate in the marketplace. Dealers can register today and plan to attend the in-person event, and should health concerns prevent them from attending, their registration will easily transfer to the virtual experience, which will also feature powerful education, an exhibitor showcase and networking opportunities.

“Over the last nearly 50 years, the MRAA has stood by dealers’ sides through good times and bad, and the one constant has been the answers and solutions the MRAA has provided at every point along the way,” said Gruhn. “Our promise is that the MRAA team will once again deliver a timely, relevant and impactful event that will provide dealers with the insights they need for 2021 and beyond, no matter what the world throws at us.”

Dealers can register now to receive the lowest rate of the year, “Earliest Bird,” through July 15. Earliest Bird offers pricing of $424 for MRAA Members and $524 for non-members. They can also reserve a room at the Fairmont Austin, this year’s host hotel, which is adjacent to the Austin Convention Center.

“We want our dealers to know that they can register for Dealer Week with great confidence,” Gruhn explains. “We know that dealers rely on the strategies and best practices they glean from this annual event, and we want them to know that no matter what, Dealer Week 2020 WILL take place, and MRAA will deliver for them in a marketplace that requires the insights and answers that only Dealer Week can provide.”

Stay tuned for further announcements about Dealer Week and register now at DealerWeek.com.

About Dealer Week
For nearly 50 years, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has delivered world class educational programming to dealers, retailers and service operations that power the boating industry and serve today’s boaters. Dealer Week is MRAA’s annual conference and expo, designed to engage, energize and empower the dealer community. Learn more at DealerWeek.com.

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 Statement on Racism

MINNEAPOLIS – June 9, 2020 – Tragedy has fallen upon Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States and the world. On Monday, May 25, George Floyd was killed by police in an unjust, unfair and deplorable act of violence.

 

This is one act in a long series of violent acts upon the Black community that signifies the systemic racism that has plagued our society for hundreds of years. The unrest in Minneapolis is a symptom of that racism.

 

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MRAA, being headquartered in the Minneapolis area, no longer has the privilege, ability or desire to remain silent.

 

Like you, we are disturbed to see the continued systemic racism that affects our families, our friends and our neighbors of color. We are frustrated by the injustices and inequality Black people face in our community and elsewhere. We are saddened by the destruction that has been inflicted — often by outsiders — on area’s small businesses, grocery stores, pharmacies, schools, libraries and other organizations, many of which were immigrant- and people of color-owned, and all of which contributed to the well-being of our local community. We’re actively deciding to put feelings into solutions.

 

We have been inspired and encouraged by what we’ve seen in our communities over the past couple weeks. We have seen people of every race stand up for their Black family members, friends and neighbors in peaceful protest and prayer. We have seen food drives that have had to redirect donations because their stocks are overflowing. We have seen hope. We have seen love. We have seen action.

 

We have also seen our own team members step up, becoming organizers for their blocks to build safety measures and build community; helping people find emergency housing; donating food, medical supplies, cleaning items and money; and volunteering their time, their compassion and their energy.

 

Now is a time for change. As the MRAA, we stand against racism and racial inequality. We are learning what it means to be an ally and an advocate, and we are committing to do better in the future to learn about the injustices that Black people face and to stand up to do our part to contribute to the solution, as opposed to remaining silent about the problem. We implore our colleagues across the boating industry to stand, learn, commit and contribute alongside us.

 

src=Many in our marine industry community have reached out to us and asked how we’re doing and what they could do to help. As a first step to support our community from an organizational standpoint, the MRAA is making donations to, and matching our team members’ donations to Lake Street Council, described below.

 

We ask that you donate alongside us, to support our Minneapolis neighbors in need. Here are a few options you could consider:

 

Official George Floyd Memorial Fund

This fund is established to cover funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and to assist the Floyd family in the days to come as they continue to seek justice for George. A portion of these funds will also go to the Estate of George Floyd for the benefit and care of his children and their educational fund.

 

Lake Street Council

Lake Street Council (501c3) will donate 100% of funds to help rebuild Lake Street, the epicenter of the destruction in Minneapolis, starting with direct support to small businesses and nonprofits to help them rebuild their storefronts, reopen their businesses and serve their neighborhoods. A majority of Lake Street businesses are owned by immigrants and people of color, and Lake Street Council is committed to ensuring that support is accessible to all businesses and has an equitable impact. As they work to allocate and distribute these funds, they will focus on helping the hardest-hit and most vulnerable businesses in their community, which disproportionately includes immigrant and POC-owned businesses.

 

MTS Secondary School

MTS is a tuition-free, public school with nine options that serve students in the Twin Cities metro area through its brick and mortar school sites, as well as greater Minnesota through online options. The school is hosting a fundraiser for students and families who lack access to basic needs. Once received, a social worker team will discern the needs and meet them.

 

Midtown Global Market

Midtown Global Market is a vibrant economic and cultural center where communities gather. It is home to 45 small businesses representing 16 cultures, ethnicities or countries of origin. Helping this organization will keep the market up and running, and also provide a source of food for this community, as this area has become a food desert.

 

Pimento Relief Fund

The Association for Black Economic Power is raising funds for Pimento, a Black-owned restaurant, to provide this Black business, without insurance, relief after white supremacists set them on fire during the protests. Their goal is to raise $1 million to help these businesses recover from the damages done.

 

All of this being said, a donation shouldn’t be the end of your action. We encourage and challenge you to look into your own neighborhoods and support organizations that support the advancement of Black people, Black communities, Black-owned businesses, Black families, civil rights, civic engagement, voter participation and criminal justice reform.

 

We also ask that you, just like us, continue to learn and listen to those from diverse backgrounds. We encourage you to open your hearts to change your minds and alter your points of view, if needed, as you learn and grow. We encourage you to look at how you can build community trust and connection with your neighbors of color. We support you in using your voice and your business’ voice to lift up Black people and other people of color. And we encourage you to work with your employees to give them the space and time they need to process current events, volunteer in your communities and have the difficult conversations we’re all having right now.

 

Our goal is to become better allies and advocates for those in the Black community. Two of our values as an organization are Accountability and Authenticity. We will hold each other Accountable for this change, growth and support, and we hope you will hold us Accountable, too. We want to be Authentic in creating this pledge to help remove barriers that hinder Black leadership and progress, and help us evolve to a supportive society that is better for all.

 

—   The team at the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA)

 

Matt Gruhn, President

Liz Walz, Vice President

Allison Gruhn, Director of Business Development

Mike Davin, Brand Director

Liz Keener, Certification Manager

Nikki Duffney, Member Development Manager

Mickaela Hilleren, Program Marketing Coordinator

Katie Eichelberger, Marketing Specialist

Sarah Korbel, Events and Operations Specialist

Adam Fortier-Brown, Government Relations Manager

Michele Rosacker, Administrative Manager

Bob McCann, Lead MICD Program Consultant

Zane Stevenson, Certification Consultant

 

Photo credits: Sarah Korbel, South Minneapolis resident, MRAA staff member

 

Photo 1:  A memorial for George Floyd continues to grow at 38th & Chicago in Minneapolis. Xena Goldman, Greta McLain and Cadex Herrera created the mural to give the community a place to mourn.

 

Photo 2:  Mourners gather in Minneapolis to pay tribute to George Floyd at 38th & Chicago.

 


 

U.S. Congress Near-Unanimously Approve PPP Changes for Small Businesses


Last night, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation that would give Paycheck Protection Program borrowers more freedom in how to use funds and still have loans forgiven. The same legislation, dubbed the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act, was passed in a near-unanimous vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The legislation introduced by Reps. Dean Phillips (D-MN) and Chip Roy (R-TX) makes changes to PPP that include:

  • Extending the period to use loans to 24 weeks, up from eight weeks;
  • Give borrowers more flexibility with their funds, allowing businesses to use 60% rather than 75% of loan proceeds on payroll costs and still be eligible for loan forgiveness;
  • Allows borrowers to receive loan forgiveness and defer payroll taxes, which was not previously allowed;
  • Provides exemptions for businesses to claim if they cannot rehire and individual due to business contraction, decline in business activity, or inability to hire a similarly qualified individual.

The bill faced an uphill battle in the Senate, with initial attempts to block the bill due to concerns about disincentivizing bringing back employees. Ultimately though, the bill received endorsements from key Senate republicans like Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Marco Rubio who is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. The Senate tried to pass their own version of the bill by unanimous consent before Memorial Day weekend, but were unable to get the 100 Senators to sign off on the legislation in one day.

Senator McConnell threw his support behind the bill in a speech on the Senate floor this week saying “I hope and anticipate the Senate will soon take up and pass legislation that just passed the House by an overwhelming vote of 417-1 to further strengthen the Paycheck Protection Program so it continues working for small businesses that need our help.”

The same day Senator Rubio released a statement cautiously supporting the bill saying that “it’s better than not doing anything” but stipulating that a key factor will be how the Treasury department interprets the legislation. “if you don’t spend 60% of your money on payroll, if you only spend 59.9%, you will get zero forgiveness.”

This is not the first time the Congress and the Treasury have disagreed on PPP implementation. In an interview with The Hill on May 21, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that he supported an extension of the program beyond eight weeks, but opposed reducing the requirement that borrowers use 75% of loan funds to cover payroll costs. “Let me just remind people — it’s called the Paycheck Protection Program. It’s not called the Overhead Protection Program,” Mnuchin said. “We believe that the 75% was exactly consistent with the way the program was designed.”

The bill will now go to President Trump’s desk for signature.

Commentary: Instead of reacting to the next disaster, let’s prepare for it

MRAA government relations manager Adam Fortier-Brown recently wrote an op-ed published in the Portland Press Herald on the importance of pre-disaster funding for small businesses, and the Great American Outdoors Act.

 

"This pandemic is one without modern precedent, but one we still could have better prepared for. ... Historically, the U.S. has not emphasized preparing for the next global health threat or natural disaster as much as it has responding to the damage they cause."

Read the full commentary here.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross Moving to Save South Atlantic Red Snapper Fishery

On Friday, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross met with recreational fishing and boating industry leaders at Maverick Boat Group, Inc. in Fort Pierce, Fla., to discuss marine recreational fishing access and the importance of marine recreation to the U.S. economy. Following a tour of the manufacturing facility, Secretary Ross indicated good news is ahead for South Atlantic red snapper and that his office is finalizing the rule requiring descending devices onboard vessels targeting snapper and grouper in the South Atlantic.

During the visit, Secretary Ross spoke with the group about challenges facing the marine industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic and actions the Administration could take to promote recreational access and spur economic growth. Congressman Brian Mast (R-FL-18) also participated in the roundtable with representatives from the across the industry supply chain. According to NOAA Fisheries, our nation’s 9.8 million saltwater anglers support 472,000 jobs and annually contribute $67.9 billion in economic generation.

As the economy is reopening, industry executives are focused on keeping their employees safe while providing exceptional customer service to Americans who want to enjoy the great outdoors. Outdoor recreation accounts for 2.2 percent of U.S. GDP with recreational fishing and boating topping the list as the largest contributors to that output.

Anglers have been frustrated in recent years by the ever-decreasing South Atlantic red snapper season as they encounter more and more fish on the water. One problem has been the rate at which these fish die after they are released due to the effects of barotrauma, a condition that results from increased pressure of internal gasses as deep-water fish are brought rapidly to the surface. NOAA Fisheries counts the high number of estimated dead discards against harvestable quota each year resulting in shortened seasons, with Indications earlier this year from the body pointing to a three-day 2020 season.

The recreational fishing and boating community have long advocated for the use of descending devices to reduce the mortality rate of prized reef fish such as snapper and grouper. A descending device is a weighted hook, lip clamp, or box that will hold the fish while it is lowered to a sufficient depth to recover from the effects of barotrauma and release the fish. On April 27, a coalition of recreational fishing and boating organizations supported the descending device rule in a public comment letter.

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are to be commended for their leadership on the descending device requirement. Long before the Council approved Amendment 29 for secretarial review, the Council actively promoted best fishing practices when catching and releasing fish. Furthermore, CSP partners the American Sportfishing Association and Coastal Conservation Association led by example educating the angling public through their programs FishSmart Conservation Project and ReleaSense, respectively. NMMA worked tirelessly with our partners to support this important measure. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also has a series of videos on its YouTube channel (FWC Saltwater Fishing) demonstrating how to use descending devices to treat barotrauma. Various descending devices have been manufactured for years and are available for retail sale. Thanks to the aforementioned educational efforts, thousands of anglers and guides already have been provided with descending devices at no charge.

The recreational fishing community stands ready to work with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, NOAA Fisheries, and anglers in the implementation of the descending device requirement.