Renewing The Great Lakes Region

"Despite its long leadership in manufacturing and business, assets like major universities, and abundant natural amenities, the Great Lakes region's industrial legacy has left it struggling to develop the human capital, entrepreneurial culture, and dynamic metropolitan regions needed to compete in the global economy."

"As 2008 approaches, the moment is ripe for regional leaders to forge a compact with the federal government around a series of policy innovations that will put the region on sure ground in the new economy. These innovations, if implemented, will help the 12 Great Lakes states to surmount their common challenges, leverage their common assets and opportunities, and together reassert their economic leadership in the nation, and the world."

This report examines the region's challenges, and calls for a new federal-state compact around a series of educational, economic, social, and infrastructure initiatives that can help the region reassert its global economic leadership.