Bill Text: GA HR743 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mini America Park; commend

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)

Status: (Passed) 2011-03-30 - House Read and Adopted [HR743 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-HR743-Introduced.html

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11 LC 35 2262

House Resolution 743

By: Representatives Dobbs of the 53rd, Taylor of the 55th, Ashe of the 56th, Wilkinson of the 52nd, Riley of the 50th, and others

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing and commending the Mini America Park, an educational and environmental green initiative in Georgia; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, continuous improvement in education is paramount to the future of the United States of America and the State of Georgia; over the next ten years, nearly half of all new jobs will require instruction that goes beyond a high school education while as many as a quarter of students are not finishing high school in the United States; and

WHEREAS, as environmental sustainability and green initiatives are necessary for us to conserve global resources utilized in our economy and daily lives, we need to support the development of new products, services, and technologies and reduce our individual and commercial carbon footprint in the process; and

WHEREAS, it is important for all citizens and corporations to realize the importance of good stewardship for our planet; citizens should be informed and corporations should be actively involved to take on the challenges that we face in our future; and

WHEREAS, there are corporations investing millions of dollars to stimulate green initiatives and individuals who are working in concert with these organizations to implement their vision to incorporate entertainment, education, and energy; and

WHEREAS, Eric Alexander de Groot is a global educator and entrepreneur and the founder of the Holland America Chamber, dedicated to economic development between Holland and America; and

WHEREAS, the United States' partnership with the Netherlands is one of its oldest continuous relationships and dates back to the American Revolution. The excellent bilateral relations are based on close historical and cultural ties as well as a common dedication to individual freedom and human rights. The United States attaches great value to its strong economic and commercial ties with the Dutch. In 2007, the Netherlands was the fourth-largest direct foreign investor in the United States, and the United States was the second-largest direct foreign investor in the Netherlands; and

WHEREAS, the Holland America Chamber is a main sponsor of Mini America, an educational and environmental "park with a purpose" focusing on education, environmental sustainability, and energy and the past, present, and future of America, featuring famous United States tourist destinations, attractions, and landmarks all in miniature, where you can walk from New York City to Los Angeles or Atlanta to Seattle and see all of America in miniature at a scale of 1:24; and

WHEREAS, nationwide, there are about 400 amusement parks in the United States and they
welcome more than 300 million people and generate $12 billion in revenue annually; the development of Mini America in Georgia will substantially contribute to the economy of the State of Georgia, boost tourism, and support the local hospitality industry; and

WHEREAS, the Mini America Park concept is based on 40 other miniature indoor facilities and outdoor parks around the world, cumulatively welcoming close to 250 million visitors, and of which the Madurodam theme park facility near The Hague in the Netherlands alone has hosted 50 million people since 1952; and

WHEREAS, the management team of Mini America Development has extensive experience in the fields of finance, real estate, education, energy and environmental sustainability, communication, marketing, human experiences, and other knowledge; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Maarten Kuik of the Euram Investment Group is actively involved in private equity placement and responsible for the investment of millions of dollars of foreign direct investment in real estate in the State of Georgia and the Southeast; and

WHEREAS, John Bevilaqua is a communications and marketing specialist who has worked for decades with the International Olympic Committee and is the founder of Patriotism Rocks, an organization whose credo is "Honor the Past and Invest in the Future"; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Gerhard Frank in Vienna, Austria, is an entertainment scientist and author of The Science of Human Experiences and 5d Principles of Staging specializing in the development and construction of museums, science centers, zoos, aquariums, visitor centers, theme parks, and related facilities; and
WHEREAS, Mr. de Groot, as the chair of the Mini America Concept Committee, together with Rob Aldrich, Reinhardt Carison, Eli Pele, and LaVay Sheldon, has worked tirelessly to ensure that the Mini America Park will be developed in the State of Georgia. This committee is not only overseeing the concept, it is actively advancing the importance of American history, products made in the United States of America, and promoting the importance of patriotic investments; and

WHEREAS, the Mini America Park will not only stir the fires of patriotism and remind Americans and visitors from all around the world of the beauty and accomplishments of the United States, but also inspire participation in the future of our great nation and stimulate enterprise and entrepreneurs for the generation of jobs.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize the Mini America Park, an educational and environmental green initiative in Georgia, and commend its many founders, organizers, contributors, and leaders for their vision and diligence in making this goal a reality.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Governor Nathan Deal, Ambassador of The Netherlands to the United States, Mrs. Renée Jones-Bos, Honorary Consul of The Netherlands for the State of Georgia, Mr. Ewoud Swaak, and Mr. Eric Alexander de Groot.