Baltimore Harbor 4th of July Fireworks 2010
by Admin ~ May 13th, 2010. Filed under: Baltimore Press Releases.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 12, 2010
MAYOR RAWLINGS-BLAKE ANNOUNCES PORTS AMERICA CHESAPEAKE AS TITLE SPONSOR OF BALTIMORE’S ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts announce Ports America Chesapeake as the title sponsor of Baltimore’s Fourth of July Celebration. Due to Baltimore City’s historic $121 million budget deficit, funding for Baltimore’s Fourth of July fireworks show over the Inner Harbor was in jeopardy. This year, Ports America Chesapeake stepped up to become the title sponsor of the city’s holiday celebration. The Ports America Chesapeake Fourth of July Celebration commemorates Independence Day with live entertainment and a colorful fireworks show. Ports America Chesapeake has been the title sponsor of Baltimore’s New Year’s Eve celebration for the past three years. In 2010, Ports America Chesapeake will sponsor the July 4th and New Year’s Eve fireworks shows at the Inner Harbor.
“For almost 90 years the City of Baltimore and Ports America have been working together to create jobs, commerce, and a better quality of life in this great port city. Most recently, we’ve entered into a 50 year concession with the Maryland Port Administration, which will create 5,700 jobs and add over $1.0 billion of value for the city and state. We’ve been sponsoring the New Year’s Eve fireworks for several years, and now I’m very happy that Mayor Rawlings-Blake has given us the honor of showing our appreciation and thanks to Baltimore by sponsoring the 4th of July fireworks as well.”
“I am grateful that Ports America Chesapeake partnered with the city to save this great Baltimore tradition,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “This year, Ports America Chesapeake is going to light up Baltimore’s skies!”
Ports America Chesapeake Fourth of July Celebration on Sunday, July 4, features musical performances that start at 2pm with jazz group Lovecraft. The Naval Academy’s Electric Brigade performs today’s popular music at 8pm. All entertainment takes place at the
Inner Harbor Amphitheater, located at Pratt and Lights streets. At 9:30pm, the multicolored fireworks light the sky over the Baltimore Inner Harbor in honor of the national holiday.
The 4th of July event is a part of a weekend celebrating the 30th anniversary of Harborplace. Since opening in 1980, Harborplace has led the way for Baltimore’s downtown renaissance and provided the catalyst for business growth throughout the area. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Harborplace has an exciting weekend of special events and family entertainment taking place at Baltimore’s number one attraction. The celebration kicks off on Friday July 2 with a special ceremony full of surprises followed by a weekend of free musical performances, a crab cake eating contest, and a fun fashion costume show. On July 4, Harborplace will serve as the backdrop for Baltimore’s annual Independence Day Festivities with additional free concerts and performances all leading up to the Ports America Chesapeake Fourth of July Celebration, which Harborplace is proud to once again serve as a supporting sponsor.
The Ports America Chesapeake Fourth of July Celebration is made possible by title sponsor Ports America Chesapeake and supporting sponsors Harborplace & The Gallery, Cricket, Target, Charm City Circulator and WJZ-13.
Ports America Chesapeake (PAC), a subsidiary of Ports America Group (Ports America), is a partner with the Maryland Port Administration in the 50-year lease and concession agreement to operate the Seagirt Marine Terminal in the Port of Baltimore.
Ports America is the largest independent terminal operator in North America, providing terminal management and a full suite of stevedoring and related services. Ports America and its predecessor companies have operated in Baltimore for 89 years, and are committed to making investments that will strengthen the Port of Baltimore for the future. Specifically, the new concession agreement provides more than $1.3 billion in value to the State of Maryland, creates 5,700 jobs, and delivers more than $15 million annually in new tax revenues.
Importantly, PAC will provide 100% of the funding to implement the Maryland Port Administration’s (MPA) long-standing vision and commitment to make Baltimore one of only two eastern ports capable of handling the large “Super Post Panamax” container ships that will begin calling the East Coast upon the completion of the Panama Canal widening project in 2014. For company information, please visit www.portsamerica.com.
Ports America is owned by Highstar Capital, a leading independent operationally focused and value-added infrastructure investor that has directly invested over $5.2 billion of capital in infrastructure investments to date, primarily in the United States. For company information please visit www.highstarcapital.com.
For additional information on Ports America Chesapeake, Ports America or Highstar Capital, please contact Gregory Vistica, Washington Media Group, 202-215-8198.
For more information on Ports America Chesapeake Fourth July Celebration, call 1-877-BALTIMORE or visit www.promotionandarts.com.
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