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• The Great Lakes are one of America’s most important
natural features. They account for 90 percent
of the United States’ and
20 percent of the world’s surface fresh water.
• The
12-state Great Lakes economic region is a vital part of the U.S.
economy -- 300 of the nation’s Fortune 1000 firms are located
in this area. 
• The Great Lakes directly impact the lives
of roughly 35 million people who live in the 12 states and Canadian
provinces surrounding them. They provide drinking water, recreation,
commercial transportation, and tangible and intangible quality
of life benefits.
• The Great Lakes and its waterways offer
a tremendous opportunity for reinvigorating the economy of the
region and boosting the competitiveness of the nation as a whole.
• This “North
Coast” of the U.S. offers the prospect of environmentally
and financially sustainable commercial and population growth.
• The
Great Lakes region has the potential to be the center of new water-based
innovation - it is home to the nation’s leading freshwater
research centers and has the largest number of private firms engaged
in fresh water technology development.
• It has the world’s
leading network of universities which produce 38% of the nation’s
bachelors degree holders and 37% of the nation’s advanced
science and engineering graduates.
• By protecting the water
and lands in the Great Lakes watershed our region can be a key
asset in strengthening the U.S. economy. Our backyard can serve
as a platform for sustainable economic growth, a crucible for freshwater
protection and technology development as well as a magnet for skilled
workers.
(Information included here is from the report, “Healthy
Waters, Strong Economy: The Benefits of Restoring the Great Lakes
Ecosystem,”, by J.C. Austin, S. Anderson, P.N. Courant,
R.E. Litan, Sept. 2007, The Brookings Institution – Great
Lakes Economic Initiative.)
Download
a PDF version of this fact sheet »
Questions? Call Liz
Walsh at (608) 251-9131 x12 or email liz [at] gatheringwaters.org.
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