A new Great Lakes economic plan calls for positioning the region as the Fresh Coast Economic Corridor through the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes.
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative rolled out a 10-year blueprint for safeguarding the Great Lakes' freshwater resources and advancing economic growth in the region that spans the Upper Midwest and Canada. The plan aims to draw 500,000 new businesses and attract 18 million new jobs to communities along Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes.
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante and other mayors from around the Great Lakes region took part in crafting the Economic Transformation Action Plan: A Blueprint for Economic Growth and Freshwater Stewardship in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Region, which was unveiled Wednesday.
“Global fresh water is dwindling rapidly, yet here in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Region, we have an opportunity to lead,” Melton said. “The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative’s Economic Transformation Action Plan ensures we attract investment, create millions of jobs and protect the fresh water that defines our communities.”
The action plan looks to build off the Great Lakes region, accounting for 84% of North America's surface freshwater and the third largest economy in the world. It aims to leverage that strength to lure more businesses and investment along a shipping corridor that moves goods like steel, salt, limestone and wind turbines.
The document lays out 17 strategies for local governments and 76 actions they can take.
"The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Region is uniquely positioned to lead North America’s next era of economic growth. With the world’s largest supply of surface fresh water, a highly skilled workforce and a proven record of innovation, our region has what it takes to attract sustainable industries, create millions of jobs and prove that economic prosperity and freshwater stewardship can go together. As one of the region’s leading economic hubs, Chicago is proud to stand with communities across this region to unlock its full potential," Johnson said.
The plan calls for reducing emissions by 300 million metric tons, improving water quality from fair to good and avoiding any percentage increase in water loss.
"For too long, economic growth in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Region has come at the expense of the health of our environment. This Action Plan marks a clear break from that past, advancing a new approach to economic development, one that places water quality and supply at the heart of economic prosperity," Plante said. "By working together across borders, we are proving that a thriving economy and the protection of our most precious resource — our fresh water — can and must advance hand in hand."
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