GCP joins collaborative efforts to advocate for jobs, economic transformation in Great Lakes Region

Monday, February 16, 2009

Cleveland, Ohio - February 16, 2009 - As the debate over federal stimulus proposals continues, representatives from the Greater Cleveland Partnership joined colleagues from metropolitan chambers of commerce in 12 other states in Washington to advocate for a plan to create jobs and spur economic revitalization in the Great Lakes region.

The GCP and its counterpart organizations discussed their joint "Agenda for Jobs and Economic Transformation in the Great Lakes Region" which calls for significant short-term and long-term investment and new policy initiatives in five strategic areas:

  • Federal transportation infrastructure funding and policy
  • A 21st century border with Canada
  • Investment in the Great Lakes to transform our economic region
  • Great Lakes innovation strategy
  • Federal immigration policy

The group also discussed how the federal economic stimulus program can support Great Lakes  regional goals and, at the same time, create jobs, with a primary focus on transportation and infrastructure. Cleveland area projects include the proposed Opportunity Corridor and the relocation of the Port of Cleveland. In total, the initiatives recommended by the coalition could  result in well over $100 billion long term economic benefit to the region and nation.

"These are projects that can benefit not only Northeast Ohio, but the Great Lakes region as a whole," said GCP President and CEO Joe Roman. "They can put thousands of people immediately back to work and fuel the region's longer-term economic transformation."

The Great Lakes region is one of the world's most important economic engine, covering all or parts of 12 states and two Canadian provinces.  It is the second largest economy in the world, the cradle of innovation, ingenuity and productivity, the home of many of the world's leading educational and health care institutions, and the source of 20 percent of the world's fresh water supply.

Still, the region faces significant challenges as it adjusts to a new global economy, which  call for a change in approach to the region's future.  Those changes include a new partnership between the federal government and the Great Lakes states to provide an immediate boost to the region's economy through significant job-creating infrastructure investment, as well as new policies to help drive the long term economic transformation of the region.

"An Agenda for Jobs and Economic Transformation in the Great Lakes Region" was developed in collaboration with the Brookings Institution and with input from: Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce, Allegheny Conference, Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, DavenportOne, Detroit Regional Chamber, Duluth Chamber of Commerce, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, Greater Cleveland Partnership, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce, Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Michigan Regional Chamber Alliance, Quad City Chamber of Commerce, Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce,  Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce and Youngstown/Warren Chamber of Commerce.

The Greater Cleveland Partnership, (GCP), the primary voice for businesses in Greater Cleveland, seeks to create jobs and improve the economic vitality of the region. The GCP is a founder and proud supporter of the Cleveland Plus marketing campaign.

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