CIEE's BridgeUSA Celebration Tour: Mackinac Island Stop

The CIEE BridgeUSA Celebration Tour visited iconic Mackinac Island, Michigan, last week to thank the champions and supporters of the U.S. Department of State’s BridgeUSA Exchange Visitor program.  With just 500 full-time residents, Mackinac Island depends on 5,000 seasonal workers to support over 1,000,000 annual visitors from around the world and its business leaders agree that BridgeUSA is a vital component of that workforce, providing critical support for businesses and adding an irreplicable international flair to the island.

About BridgeUSA

Congress established the BridgeUSA program in 1961 as part of the Fulbright-Hays Act to advance American interests at home and abroad. BridgeUSA international visitors pay their own way to America, support the very best American companies, help create more jobs for Americans, and then return home to over 140 countries with a deeper understanding and respect for American culture.

BridgeUSA Makes America Safer, Stronger, and More Prosperous

Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, stated that America’s foreign policy will be guided by strategies that make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.  BridgeUSA does all three at virtually no cost to American taxpayers. In fact, BridgeUSA adds billions of dollars each year to the U.S. economy, adds up to 50 days to the tourism season in resort towns across America, and creates thousands of seasonal jobs for Americans. Moreover, BridgeUSA nurtures mutual understanding, strengthens international relationships, and creates lifelong advocates for the United States around the world.

Rebecca Pasini, U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchange, described the BridgeUSA program as "a powerful engine for pro-U.S. diplomacy that delivers measurable benefits at the local level." 

Three-year CIEE BridgeUSA Celebration Tour

CIEE's nationwide BridgeUSA Celebration Tour seeks to highlight how the BridgeUSA program helps American communities grow stronger and more prosperous by listening to local business leaders describe in their own voices the power of BridgeUSA. 

In 2025, CIEE’s BridgeUSA Celebration Tour stops included:

• Cedar Point, OH
• Kings Island, OH
• Kentucky Kingdom, KY
• Yellowstone National Park, WY
• Big Sky, MT
• Myrtle Beach, SC
• San Antonio, TX

In 2026, CIEE will celebrate the power of BridgeUSA in:

• Park City, UT
• Mackinac Island, MI
• Wisconsin Dells, WI
• Ocean City, MD

In 2027, CIEE will celebrate the power of BridgeUSA in:

• Whitefish, MT
• Jackson Hole, WY
• Charlotte, NC

For more on the CIEE BridgeUSA Celebration Tour, visit our website or follow CIEE on LinkedIn.