Travelling to the Great Lakes Tek Flex and Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day: INFO FOR ATTENDEES AND EXHIBITORS

Location: 

Michigan State University Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (SWMREC): 1791 Hillandale Rd, Benton Harbor, MI 49022. Michigan State University: Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center

Train Service/Rental Car:

There is Amtrak service to St. Joseph, MI. www.amtrak.com

Getting to The SWMREC will require that you rent a car. There is an Enterprise Car Rental close to the station with pickup service. Hours are 8 to 6 weekdays. 

Note that the train (1 per day) arrives late evening and departs early morning after and before business hours, so if this is your option, you may need to communicate with your hotel for transport. There is no Uber or Lyft in this area. The Boulevard Hotel (below) is in easy walking distance to the train depot. 

Enterprise Rental, Benton Harbor +1 269-925-0118 www.enterprise.com

1699-a Colfax

Benton Harbor, Harbor, MI

Pick-Up Service Available

Airports: 

There are multiple airport options:

ORD Chicago is about 2 hours away.

GRR Grand Rapids Regional Airport is 1 hour 10 minutes travel and has many flights. Served by all major carriers.

AZO Kalamazoo Regional airport is also about 55 minutes travel. Served by American, United, Delta and Southwest.

SBN South Bend International Airport, the closest, is about 40 minutes travel and served by American, Delta, United, Allegiant and Breeze.

Hotels: 

Benton Harbor and St. Joseph are a single small metropolitan area separated by the St. Joseph River. Benton Harbor, the home of Whirlpool, has a gritty history, but the hotels are located in safe areas closer to the freeway, about 10 minutes from the SWMREC. St. Joseph Hotels are about 15-20 minutes away, but offer the vacation amenities of the St. Joseph downtown and Silver Beach Lake Michigan Lakefront, along with the picturesque St. Joseph River pier. Should these hotels fill up, there are other new national chain hotels in Stevensville, the next town south and about 15-20 minutes from the SWMREC. 

Pinnacle Group owns the Courtyard, SpringHill Suites, Staybridge Suites, and Hilton Garden Inn. They have generously offered a discounted rate of $138 per night in all four of these properties. Book using their respective corporate sites, and Use Code (WIll Update the Week of July 6) when making your reservations online. The code is valid for stays September 9-12 and September 14-17. There is no block size, and the rate is subject to availability. 

For exhibitors desiring offsite meeting space for their teams, or large groups requiring blocks of rooms, contact Enrique Martinez at 269-519-1069 or shsbh_sales@staypinnacle.com

The Inn at Harbor Shores www.innatharborshores.com  is a premium waterfront location on the St. Joseph River, with onsite restaurants, meeting space, and a marina. It is immediately adjacent to a PGA golf course. It is walking distance to downtown St. Joseph, and about a 20 minute drive from the SWMREC. They have offered a discounted room rate for our groups using code: (Will Update the week of July 6)

For exhibitors desiring offsite meeting space for their teams, or large groups requiring blocks of rooms, contact Molly Clemer, Direct Line 269-408-9113

The Boulevard www.theboulevardinn.com is the grand dame of St. Joseph area hotels, on the bluff overlooking lake Michigan and walking distance to all entertainment in St Joseph. It is about 20-25 minutes from SWMREC. They currently are not offering any discount codes for these two events. For block sales for your group or company, contact Allison Sherman allisonsherman@theboulevardinn.com, 269-983-4518. 

Things to do in Southwest Michigan

https://swmichigan.org/ is the goto starting point for local attractions. 36 wineries, agrotourism based on one of the top three most diverse agricultural production regions in the world, hundreds of miles of white sand beaches, and excellent restaurants will make you want to add a day or two to your stay- or come back!

Exhibitor Logistics: 

Exhibitor Registrations- Tek Flex:

Exhibitors and gold and higher sponsors are allowed 4 employee passes per company. Please email GLTekFlex@gmail.com with your list of Employees by SEPTEMBER 1. Additional employees must register at normal rate.

Tents, Tables, Chairs, and Generator Rentals

The Tek Flex is not providing tents, tables, chairs or generators as part of the registration fee. If these are needed, they can be rented from the following: 

• The Rental Branch, full service rentals based in St. Joseph: https://www.therentalbranch.com/ 

• Michiana Rental: https://mtrental.com/ 

• Troop 603 Tent Rentals. Support the local Boy Scouts! https://www.troop603.org/tent.html

Tractors (Tek Flex EXhibitors)

We are working with the Local tractor dealers to find tractors for vendors that need them. SWMREC has a very limited number. MAKE SURE Michael Reinke knows what you need when you have your logistics call. 

Dunnage/Drayage/receiving equipment at SWMREC

Equipment may be delivered in advance, with approval from the Farm Manager Mike DeSchaaf or onsite coordinator Mike Reinke. Generally deliveries should be made during business hours starting Tuesday, September 6. Earlier or after-hours deliveries by individual arrangement. 

Onsite equipment storage

The area around SWMREC is generally very safe. Outside storage is nearly unlimited but unsecured.  If you require covered/secured storage, there is limited space available. There is Commercial Storage on the corner of Napier Ave and Hillandale road, .25 miles away.