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By Mike Schaffer, The News-Herald

The 2005 Cruisin’ Downriver event is presented by The News-Herald Newspaper, the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber and Oldies 104.3 WOMC-FM.

However, the cruise wouldn’t be a success with the many sponsors, which help cover the costs of extra emergency and cleanup personnel in each of the four cities (Lincoln Park, Riverview, Southgate and Wyandotte) on the cruise route.

This year marks the best year ever for corporate sponsorship of Cruisin’ Downriver including title sponsor: AutoAlliance International, Inc.; silver sponsors: Meijer, Rodgers Chevrolet; and bronze sponsors: Capers Tavern and Eatery, Crystal Gardens Banquet Center, DreamCruiseCars.com, Fritz Enterprises Inc., General RV Center, Heartland Healthcare Center of Allen Park, HOBNOBS Casual Dining and Banquet Facilities, Oakwood Cafe, Painter’s Supply & Equipment, SBC, Winners Dodge and Wy-South Federal Credit Union.

Here’s a profile of this year’s title sponsor, AutoAlliance International of Flat Rock, and the silver sponsors for the 2005 Cruisin’ Downriver:

AutoAlliance International

This Flat Rock-based auto manufacturing company is a joint venture between Ford Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp., which entered into a joint venture and created AutoAlliance International Inc. in 1992.

Past vehicle models produced at the facility include the Ford Probe and Mazda MX-6. The facility currently is producing the Mazda6.

In June 1999, AutoAlliance celebrated production of its 2 millionth vehicle at the Flat Rock facility. The plant is producing the hot selling 2005 Mustang and 2005 Mustang convertible, which is featured on this year’s Cruisin’ Downriver logo.

Meijer Inc.

In the midst of the Depression in 1934, 50-year-old barber Hendrik Meijer bought $338.76 of merchandise on credit and started a new business, Meijer’s Grocery, in the western Michigan community of Greenville.

Future Meijer Chairman Fred Meijer, then 14, started also, bagging groceries. Meijer is a family owned and operated grocery and general merchandise retailer, operating 158 stores throughout the Midwest. Meijer continues to grow, with five stores to open in 2004 and eight stores in 2005.

Rodgers Chevrolet

This Woodhaven-based, full-service auto dealership is owned by Pamela Rodgers, a General Motors dealer since 1993. A Detroit-area native, Rodgers earned an economics degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in business administration/ finance from Duke University.

Rodgers has been president of Rodgers Chevrolet since 1996. Before that, she was president, Flat Rock Chevrolet-Oldsmobile, and general manager of Harrell Chevrolet-Olds.

She was recently named a GM “Dealer of the Year.”