Past Economic Development for the only other Bass Pro in Michigan at this point

Governor Welcomes Bass Pro Shops to Michigan, First Tourism Attraction Success Expected to Draw 4 Million

Sunday, April 26, 1998

John Truscott

(517) 335-6397

Governor John Engler announced today that a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store will open in the new Great Lakes Crossing development in Auburn Hills. In an effort to focus on tourism attraction, the Michigan Jobs Commission worked to bring the store, which is expected to draw 4 million visitors each year, to Michigan. At a press conference in Auburn Hills, Governor Engler and Bass Pro Shops President Johnny Morris expressed their excitement in bringing the store to Michigan. "I cannot think of a better way to announce our first major success in tourism development than by welcoming the world's leading outdoor recreational retailer to Michigan," said Governor Engler. "I know Bass Pro was also looking to locate in Ohio, but Michigan's great outdoors is simply a much better fit for this company with its long history of enjoying and preserving the outdoors." This is Bass Pro Shops fifth store in the United States. Its Missouri store is that state's number one tourist attraction. Under an innovative economic development deal, Travel Michigan will conduct joint marketing with Bass Pro Shops. Travel Michigan will advertise in Bass Pro catalogs for the next four to six years and Bass Pro will advertise in Michigan's tourism catalog for the next three years. "When those four million tourists come to Outdoor World to purchase their recreational equipment, we're going to make sure they keep right on moving throughout the state of Michigan to enjoy our abundance of recreational opportunities," said Richard Czuba, Director of Travel Michigan, Michigan's tourism marketing agency. The Auburn Hills store is expected to create 300 new jobs for Southeast Michigan.