About Us
Only 20 years ago, the Great Lakes region was labeled the Rust
Belt. Following a dramatic recovery led by the Great Lakes Governors,
the region is now setting the pace in the global marketplace and
protecting the world's largest single source of fresh water.
The Council of Great Lakes Governors is a non-partisan partnership of the Governors of the eight Great Lakes States - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. In 1983, the region’s Governors joined forces to create the Council and tackle the severe environmental and economic challenges then facing the citizens of their States. In more recent years, the Premiers of Ontario and Québec have joined with the Governors in advancing the high performance economy of the Great Lakes region.
The Great Lakes Governors share a dual stewardship for both the
world’s single largest source of fresh water and the industrial
heartland of North America. The Great Lakes contain one fifth of
the world’s fresh water and the region’s companies manufacture
60 percent of the continent’s steel and 60 percent of automobiles
made in North America. Today, the Council Governors lead the nation
in advancing strategic alliances that stress continued protection
of their natural resources and a sustainable world-class regional
economy. Their belief is sound environmental policy makes good economic
sense.
Through shrewd fiscal management and sensible environmental policies,
the Great Lakes Governors have made fundamental and sustainable
changes in such areas as education, welfare reform, trade, and land
use management. The region is now well positioned to shape the direction
of North America’s economic prosperity and environmental stewardship.

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