GREAT LAKES AND ST LAWRENCE CITIES INITIATIVE

VARIOUS PROGRAMS SUPPORTING THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION INCLUDING: 1) ESTABLISH A GREAT LAKES CITIES INITIATIVE, UNDER WHICH MAYORS WILL WORK JOINTLY TO ADVANCE THE RESTORATION AND PROTECTION OF THE GREAT LAKES ECOSYSTEM; 2) RESILIENT COASTAL PROJECT INITIATIVE, PROVIDED CONSULTING ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITIES IN ILLINOIS, MINNESOTA, OHIO, PENSYLVANIA, NEW YORK, MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN; 3) SEEK PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATE WITH OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, VARIOUS COMMISSIONS AND PANELS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN GREAT LAKES ISSUES; 4) IMPLEMENT AND ADVANCE EXISTING MAYORAL INITIATIVES CONCERNING THE GREAT LAKES; 5) CALL UPON THE U.S. CONGRESS AND CANADIAN PARLIAMENT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, BY AN INDEPENDENT PANEL OF SCIENCE AND POLICY EXPERTS WHICH INCLUDES THE MEMBER MAYORS, AND DELIVER A DETAILED PLAN FOR THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF THE GREAT LAKES. THIS PLAN WILL BE UPDATED AS VARIOUS ISSUES ARISE AND WILL SERVE AS A BLUEPRINT TO GUIDE AGREED-UPON FUTURE LEGISLATIVE AND APPROPRIATIONS ACTIVITIES THAT RESTORE AND PROTECT THE GREAT LAKES ECOSYSTEM; 6) IDENTIFY, EVALUATE. HIGHLIGHT AND SHARE INFORMATION WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT SUCCESSFUL LOCAL INITIATIVES THAT PROTECT AND RESTORE THE GREAT LAKES ECOSYSTEM WHILE ENCOURAGING THE VITALITY OF GREAT LAKES COMMUNITIES; 7) CONTINUE TO MEET, COMMUNICATE AND SHARE IDEAS ABOUT THE VARIOUS ISSUES THE MEMBER CITIES ARE EXPERIENCING IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THE MUCH NEEDED KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING AND SOLUTIONS OF SAID ISSUES, WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE, COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS.8) COLLABORATE CLOSELY TO PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION OF THE GREAT LAKES AND ST. LAWRENCE BASIN INTO A THRIVING BLUE-GREEN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR. THE BASIN FORMS THE LARGEST FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM IN THE WORLD, PROVIDING DRINKING WATER TO MORE THAN 40 MILLIONPEOPLE AND SERVING AS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COMMUNITIES' ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. THE MAYORS COMMISSION ON ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION WILL LAUNCH AN ACTION PLAN FOR THE REGION IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025. THIS ROADMAP FOR THE BASIN COMMUNITIES WILL HELP TRANSFORM OUR REGION, ADD GOOD PAYING JOBS, IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF OUR RESIDENTS AND BRING ABOUT PROSPERITY OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS.