The Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association Announces Changes for the 2021 Great Lakes Trade Exposition

The Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association Announces Changes for the 2021 Great Lakes Trade Exposition

For Immediate Release:                                October 19, 2020


Due to COVID-19 concerns and new/continuing restrictions on indoor capacity limits by both the State of MI Dept of Health and Human Services and the local Ingham County Health Department, the MNLA Board of Directors and GLTE Experience Team are disappointed to announce that we will not be able to hold an in-person 2021 Great Lakes Trade Exposition (GLTE).

This marks the first time in 98 years that we will not hold our annual in-person GLTE. “Our exhibitors in the GLTE are the core support for the GLTE and our Association, and it is our mission to provide them and our attendees with the utmost value for their investment of both time and money. To that end, as there isn’t another platform that provides what we all get out of an in-person trade show, we will not be holding a virtual trade show in 2021. Instead, for 2021 we will hold a GLTE Virtual Education Conference,” said MNLA Executive Director Amy Upton.

“And while we’ll miss the networking and camaraderie that comes with meeting face-to-face, we are planning an extraordinary event in its place,” added Upton. The 2021 GLTE Virtual Education Conference will be held January 25-27, 2021 and will be accessible from all of your electronic devices—your computer, tablet, or smart phone. The 2021 GLTE Virtual Education Conference will continue to include more opportunities than ever to earn pesticide recertification credits and CEUs, more hours of industry-specific education and professional development classes.

In place of the state’s oldest, largest, and most respected green industry trade show we are pleased to introduce MNLA’s Business-to-Business Connect program. This program was designed as a new resource for Michigan’s Green Industry firms to connect to our loyal exhibitors—the suppliers of nursery and landscape materials, equipment and products—trees, shrubs, bedding plants, decorative materials, mulch, hardscape materials, irrigation products, outdoor furnishings, turfgrass and arboricultural products––and industry business/software/hardware supplies. As always, we encourage you to shop locally and continue to support the firms that support you!

The Michigan Nursery & Landscape was established in 1922 and is the oldest and largest statewide Green Industry trade association. Our mission: United to advocate professionalism, integrity and growth for Michigan's green industry—an industry with an economic impact of $5.715 billion.