AGENDA - Draft
July 18, 2013
Island Resort and Conference Center
8:30 – 9:00Registration
9:00 – 9:15Welcome and Board Update
9:15 – 10:15 Freight (Rail) Transportation in the Upper Peninsula- Pasi Lautala, Ph.D., P.E
This presentation will provide an overview of freight transportation in the Upper Peninsula, with specific emphasis on rail transportation. It will briefly review challenges faced by transportation (and rail transportation) industry in general and specifically in the UP. Some of the topics include light densities and low usage of rail lines and challenges for containerized movements. The presentation will also introduce the tasks of an on-going Upper Peninsula Freight Rail Study and some preliminary outcomes related to commodity flow analysis and discussions with railroad service providers / shippers.
10:15 – 10: 30 Networking Break
10:30 – 11:00 Naturalia ConferenceNaturallia 2013 is a unique and highly effective business-to-business matchmaking event, designed to enable companies to facilitate local, regional, national and international exchanges of Canada’s key sectors. This year, Naturallia will bring together more than 200 companies and SMEs (small and medium enterprises) from over 14 countries in the following sectors:
• Advanced manufacturing
• Value-added forest products
• Mining supply and services
• Smart energy development, supply and services
Learn from conference organizers, how you can connect your business partners and others in withthis great opportunity.
11:00 – 12:00 Senator Tom Casperson - Invited
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch and One-Minute -Updates
1:00 – 2:00 Wineries and Craft Breweries as Economic Drivers
Learn from local wineries and craft breweries about their businesses and how they impact the UP. Confirmed UP Sun Winery and Keweenaw Brewing Company. Others have been invited.
2:00 – 3:00 Northwoods Rail Transit Commission – Wendy Gelhoff
NRTC currently consists of 10 northern Wisconsin Counties. The NRTC officially formed in May of 2012 in an effort to sustain and enhance safe, reliable and efficient rail service critical to the businesses, communities and economies of northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. A summary of what the NRTC has accomplished since forming, plans for future work and an update on an official interstate agreement process to enable Michigan Counties to join NRTC efforts to help push for improved commercial rail service in our combined Northwoods region.
3:00Finish One Minute Updates
Adjournment
Next meeting - September 20, Upper Great Lakes Summit