2023 OCIC Q2 Trustee Board Meeting

The OCIC held our second quarter Trustee Meeting on Wednesday, June 28th at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge with food provided by Bistro 163. The meeting included an update on OCIC initiatives including Advanced Air Mobility, OhioMeansJobs, Firelands Forward, the Business Advisory Council, Experience Ottawa County, and the Strategic Plan. Ottawa County Chamber Directors and Mayors also provided updates within each of their communities.

Advanced Air Mobility

Clay Finken, Director of the Erie-Ottawa International Airport, provided an update to the group. Last week, EOIA hosted the Federal Aviation Administration Detroit Airports District Office for a visit to the airfield. They provided a tour, talked about current and future plans of the airport, and how the support of our local, state, and federal partners is integral to their success as an airport and as an economic force-multiplier for our region.

Regional Housing Study

David White, Director of Firelands Forward, presented the results from the Regional Housing Study. Firelands Forward partnered with Bowen National Research to conduct a housing study of the Firelands Region. The Firelands Region Housing Study was released in May of 2023. The goal behind this study is to invigorate community conversations in hopes to create regional solutions to the housing barrier. 

View the study here.

Black Swamp Bird Observatory

Kim Kaufman, Executive Director of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, spoke about BSBO and the Biggest Week in American Birding. As part of BSBO’s ongoing research and conservation work, the team began breeding bird monitoring at the habitat surrounding BSBO. In conjunction with Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, and as part of the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program, they are looking at avian demographics throughout the habitat.

The Biggest Week In American Birding is a 10-day birding festival timed to coincide with the peak of spring songbird migration in northwest Ohio. Each spring, more than 90,000 birders visit the area from all over the world, generating an annual economic impact of more than $40 million. To date, BSBO has registered birders from every state, 52 countries, and six continents.