Brookings: Projects - Great Lakes Economic Initiative

Feds Pony Up Toward Great Lakes Water ‘Magic’

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

During a recent visit to Milwaukee, John Austin explored the economic revitalization of the Great Lakes region. Austin writes that these efforts have been given a major boost by President Obama, signing a bill that provided $475 million in Great Lakes cleanup dollars, a down-payment on a long term multi-billion dollar federal-state-local plan to clean water and reboot municipal waste systems. The empirical data shows that the clean up is creating jobs and is an economic engine throughout the Great Lakes region.

Great Lakes Monitor: Tracking Economic Recession and Recovery in the 21 Largest Metropolitan Areas of the Great Lakes Region

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A supplement to the MetroMonitor, this first edition of the Great Lakes Monitor examines the 21 largest metros in the Great Lakes region on key indicators of economic performance. It illustrates that, although Great Lakes metros have for decades shared in the struggle to retool their economies, the recession has had highly varied impacts across the region. The findings help define where and how policy makers and regional stakeholders need to focus their energies to help ensure that recovery comes—if slowly—to all parts of this complex area.

Toward a New Frontier Improving the U.S.-Canadian Border

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In an age of international terrorism and illegal immigration, a well-functioning U.S.-Canada border is vital for homeland security and also economic competitiveness. In a new report for the Metropolitan Policy Program, Chris Sands analyzes the current policy process for the U.S.-Canada border and offers recommendations for improving border policy to enhance both trade and security.

Place-Specific Benefits of Great Lakes Restoration

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

An analysis of projected property value increases created by the implementation of the federal-state Great Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC) Restoration Strategy shows estimated total benefits for the region’s metropolitan areas on the order of $16.1 billion to $26.5 billion.

The Vital Connection: Reclaiming Great Lakes Economic Leadership in the Bi-National U.S.-Canadian Region

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The bi-national Great Lakes region can continue to model what economic regions will look like in the global economy—and also how they can thrive.

"The Vital Center": A Federal-State Compact to Renew the Great Lakes Region

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

John Austin provided Great Lakes regional economic context for a forum of Ohio and Pennsylvania business and civic leaders convened by Congressmen Jason Altmire (PA), and Tim Ryan (OH) to develop strategies for growing the bi-state regional economy.

Great Lakes: Healthy Waters, Strong Economy

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In this audio news conference presentation, Vital Center author John Austin discusses the importance of the benefits of restoring the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Preserving the Vital Center: Renew the Economy of the Industrial Heartland

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

America's Great Lakes region, once the core of the nation's industrial production and wealth creation, is losing ground rapidly. This 12-state region reaches from Buffalo and Pittsburgh in the east, to Minneapolis-St. Paul and St. Louis in the west. The competitiveness agenda of the next president should include an investment strategy that focuses on regional assets and institutions that steer the transition to the knowledge economy.