Welcome To The Great Lakes And St. Lawrence Cities Initiative
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is an historic partnership between Canada and the United States that aims to protect and restore the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River ecosystem. Announced in 2021 by President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau, the initiative brings together cities, towns, and villages from both countries to work together on shared challenges facing the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.
Goals of the Initiative
The initiative has three main goals:
- Protect and restore the water quality and ecosystem of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.
- Promote sustainable economic development in the region.
- Enhance collaboration between cities, towns, and villages on both sides of the border.
Who Is Involved?
The initiative is open to all cities, towns, and villages in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin. To date, over 90 municipalities have joined the initiative. These include major cities like Chicago, Toronto, and Montreal, as well as smaller communities like Duluth, Green Bay, and Kingston. The initiative is also supported by a number of non-profit organizations and businesses.
What Are the Benefits of Joining?
There are many benefits to joining the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. These include:
- Access to funding for projects that protect and restore the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.
- Technical assistance from experts in the field of water quality and ecosystem restoration.
- Networking opportunities with other cities, towns, and villages that are working on similar issues.
- A voice in the development of policies that affect the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.
How to Join
If you are a city, town, or village in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin, you can join the initiative by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU outlines the commitments that your community will make to the initiative, such as developing a local action plan to protect and restore the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. You can find more information about the initiative and how to join on the official website.
Conclusion
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is a unique opportunity for cities, towns, and villages to work together to protect and restore the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. The initiative provides access to funding, technical assistance, and networking opportunities that can help communities make a real difference in the health of this important ecosystem. If you are a city, town, or village in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin, I encourage you to join the initiative today.
| Country | Municipality |
|---|---|
| Canada | Toronto |
| Canada | Montreal |
| Canada | Kingston |
| United States | Chicago |
| United States | Duluth |
| United States | Green Bay |
