Port Clinton will host the 2nd Annual BridgeUSA Welcome Event in The District on Monday, July 29. (Submitted photo)

BY PC MAYOR MIKE SNIDER

Given the political climate in Washington today, it’s hard to remember that when the U.S. Congress works together, they can create something positive. The BridgeUSA Program established back in the 1960s is a great example. You may not recognize that name, but living in this area you sure know the role this program plays in our local economy.

Today, the BridgeUSA Program – more commonly known as the J1 Program after the visa required to participate or the “foreign kid program” – is administered by the U.S. Department of State (USDOS). The USDOS contracts with approximately 30 companies, six of which are active in the Lake Erie Shores & Islands Area. These firms have offices in many foreign countries. They recruit college-aged kids to come to the USA for three months of work and travel experience.

Some 300,000 participants travel to the USA every summer to work in resort communities across the country. They fill the vital seasonal jobs local communities just can’t. The reality is, communities like Port Clinton (PC) just don’t have the numbers to fill seasonal employment needs.

My graduating class at Port Clinton High School (PCHS) was 205 in 1989. The PCHS class of 2024 was 127. Over those 35 years, the seasonal job opportunities have doubled several times over.

Mayor is a part-time job in PC. To pay my bills, I’ve been the VP of Rental Operations for an area vacation rental company/hotel operator for nearly three decades. Since 1999, I’ve employed hundreds of these kids in a variety of capacities.

This year, 550 BridgeUSA participants will flock to PC, Catawba, Marblehead and Put-in-Bay. They all want to work hard, earn money, experience the American way of life and improve their English. I encourage you to say hello or hola, ni hao, zdrasti, swasdi, merhaba to any of these kids as you encounter them around town. My kids this year are Fry, Pim, Mumu, Pin (Thailand); Mona & Sarah (Taiwan); and Merve (Turkey). If you follow me on social media, you’ll be able to follow my family as we take the kids on trips to many local and regional attractions, restaurants and points of interest.

On Monday, July 29, from 5-9 p.m., our community will host the 2nd Annual BridgeUSA Welcome Event in The District in downtown PC. Please bring your family, visit with these kids, exchange culture and, who knows, – perhaps you’ll even make a new lifelong friend.