Greater Chequamegon Bay
National Marine Sanctuary Nomination Initiative
TEMPLATE for LOCAL BUSINESS LETTER OF SUPPORT
(Your Businesss name or letterhead/logo)
(Your Organization’s Mailing Address)
(Address Line 2)
(Address Line 3)
(Date)
John Armor
Acting Director
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
1305 East - West Highway, 11th Floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Dear Mr. Armor,
Please accept this letter as an indication of our strong support for the nomination of the Greater Chequamegon Bay Area as a National Marine Sanctuary (NMS). This region, spanning Wisconsin’s State waters from Port Wing to the mouth of the Montreal River, contains an unprecedented concentration of some of the nation’s most significant, unspoiled, natural and cultural marine resources in the Lake Superior basin. These resources, support a variety of subsistence and commercial uses, and provide a rich cross-cultural marine heritage that continues to connect and support our communities today.
As a business in the region, we rely heavily on a robust economy driven primarily by tourism. We feel our business interests would be well served by supporting this nomination, as the designation as a NMS would (insert the most compelling reason for your business support from the list below, or feel free to craft your own. You may want to add a sentence or two indicating how your business would be served/enhanced because of this particular reason.)
REASONS:
…assist in preserving the extraordinary scenic beauty, biodiversity, historic connections, and economic productivity of Lake Superior’s most precious underwater treasures for future generations, and foster an understanding of our country’s maritime heritage and landscape.
… assist in the maintenance and preservation of critical marine habitats that sustain marine species that are culturally, biologically, and commercially important not only to this area but all of Lake Superior, and to both the U.S. and Canada.
...would recognize Lake Superior’s extraordinary marine cultural and natural resources and leverage investments made by local, state, and federal agencies, tribal governments, private and non-profitentities, and educational institutions through development and promotion of educational programs, historic maritime museums, parks, and cultural monuments, lighthouses, and marine-based recreation thereby enhancing tourism as a key component of economic development for this region and the state.
...would contribute to our local tourism-based economy by attracting fishermen, divers, snorkelers, boaters, maritime enthusiasts, and tourists who enjoy its diverse natural and cultural maritime resources.
Additionally, the designation of NMS would...
(If necessary, insert the 2nd most compelling reason for your organizational support from the list, or feel free to craft your own. You may want to add a sentence or two indicating how your business would be served or enhanced because of this particular reason.)
Insert any additional comments, qualifications or recommendations if necessary.
Therefore, we strongly support the nomination of the Greater Chequamegon Bay Region as National Marine Sanctuary and look forward to the positive impact this designation would have on our region.
Sincerely,
(your name, title)
Note to Business Owners:
Read more about the socio-economic benefits of nationally designated marine sanctuaries here: