Press Releases

September 17, 2024 – Cities Initiative Welcomes Quebec’s National Water Plan and Implementation of the Blue Fund

September 3, 2024 – Beachfront Restoration Design Project Underway in Pentwater, Michigan

August 20, 2024 – Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago Leads Honoring Our Waters: The Tribal
Connection to Stewardship Launch Event

August 2, 2024 – 10-Year Anniversary of the Toledo Water Crisis

August 1, 2024 – City of Dearborn Heights partners with Cities Initiative to develop flood control and habitat restoration designs for the North Branch of Ecorse Creek

July 18, 2024 – Mayor Holzheimer Gail of Euclid Joins the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

July 10, 2024 – Mayor Kentner of Meaford Joins the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

July 1, 2024 – Cities Initiative Celebrates Historic Signing of Agreement to Stop Spread of Invasive Carp into Great Lakes

May 15, 2024 – Montréal, Chicago and Milwaukee Mayors Sign Historic Pledge to Transform the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin into a Thriving Blue-Green Economic Corridor at Cities Initiative Annual Conference

April 25, 2024 – NOAA Administrator Meets with Mayors to Discuss Infrastructure Flood Solutions Underway in Southeast Michigan

April 23, 2024 – Cities Initiative Launches Great Lakes Lead Pipes Partnership at White House Water Summit

April 16, 2024 – Cities Initiative Supports Budget 2024’s Investments to Protect Communities from Flooding and Bolster Climate-Resilient Housing

March 8, 2024 – Cities Initiative Members Urge U.S. Government to Support Programs that Benefit Great Lakes Cities at Washington Lobby Day

February 13, 2024 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Joins Hands with New York State Community Leaders to Seek Fair Share of Close to $3 Billion in Federal Funding Available for Resilient Coastal Projects

February 7, 2024 – Cities Initiative Endorses the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2024

January 19, 2024 – Cities Initiative Attends U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting in Washington, DC

January 11, 2024 – Cities Initiative and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson Meet with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to Discuss Plans for Regional Collaboration.

December 19, 2023 – Initiative for Resilient Great Lakes Coasts Helps Local Governments Design and Develop Habitat-Focused Projects that Improve Local Climate Resilience

December 8, 2023 – The Cities Initiative Rallies Around Proposed Cross-Border Passenger Rail Expansion Between Detroit and Windsor

December 5, 2023 – Cities Initiative’s Water Equity Commission Applauds Proposed U.S. EPA Rule Mandating Lead Service Line Replacement by Water Utilities

November 8, 2023 – Cities Initiative Applauds New U.S. Federal Effort to Get the Lead Out

November 6, 2023 – The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Calls on Federal Support for Vital Climate Resilience Measures in Communities Facing Extreme Weather Events

October 24, 2023 – Mayor Tracey Bailey of the Municipality of Lakeshore Joins the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

October 11, 2023 – The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative applauds the Government of Canada’s investment of $150 million to build the new Contrecœur container terminal

October 10, 2023 – Cities Initiative Expands Reach of Resilient Coastal Projects Initiative with an Additional $1.5 Million

September 28, 2023 – The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Welcomes Historic Investments for Great Lakes Stewardship

June 23, 2023 – Grand Chief Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer Joins Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Board

June 9, 2023 – Mayors Gather in Chicago to Advance Climate Action across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin.

June 9, 2023 – Inaugural Richard M. Daley Water Equity Community Award Presented to Five Communities at the Cities Initiative Annual General Meeting in Chicago

June 7, 2023 – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Touts Vision for Climate Action and Environmental Justice

May 25, 2023 – Most communities in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin will spend up to $10 million over the coming years to protect their coastlines

May 8, 2023 – Cities Initiative Launches Richard M. Daley Water Equity Award to Provide Support to Disadvantaged Communities

April 4, 2023 – Cities Initiative Commends U.S. EPA for Ensuring Great Lakes States Receive Appropriate Share of Federal Funding for Lead Service Line Replacement

March 28, 2023 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Welcomes Freshwater Investments in Government of Canada’s 2023 Budget

March 24 – 2023 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Applauds Government of Canada’s Historic Investment in Freshwater Protection

March 22, 2023 –  Cities Initiative applauds trailblazing Montreal declaration calling for action on microfibres, PFAS and federal funding to protect our fresh water

March 14, 2023 – The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative joins the Great Lakes Commission and other partners in Washington, DC, for Great Lakes Day 2023

February 16, 2023 – Cities Initiative Applauds Illinois and Michigan Budget Proposals to Protect the Great Lakes from Invasive Carp

February 14, 2023 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Mayors Play a Key Role in Freshwater Summit in Ottawa

January 27, 2023 – Cities Initiative Joins Biden-Harris Partnership to Accelerate Progress on Lead Service Line Replacement

September 16, 2022 – Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Mayors from eleven other Midwest cities, along with EPA and state officials, take part in Lead Line Removal and Water Equity field hearing

September 14, 2022 – Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb named new Co-Chairs of the Mayors Commission on Water Equity

June 24, 2022 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River mayors turn attention to growing the region’s blue economy

June 23, 2022 – Great Lakes mayors united in support for ambitious Ontario Marine Strategy

April 7, 2022 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River mayors welcome sustained commitment to Canada Water Agency in the 2022 federal Budget

March 24, 2022 – The Cities Initiative joins calls on the Canadian Government to restore funding for shoreline infrastructure along the St. Lawrence Seaway

March 8, 2022 – Ontario and Quebec mayors call for greater federal leadership to protect shoreline communities along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River

February 24, 2022 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative receives $380,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

January 14, 2022 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative supports Federal Highway Administration bridge program.

December 16, 2021 – Great Lakes Mayors Support Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan.

November 24, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Supports Commitments in Speech from the Throne.

November 11, 2021 – The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative applauds passage of the Infrastructure bill — now urges Congress to pass the Build Back Better bill immediately

October 31, 2021 – Congress urgently needs to act on the infrastructure and reconciliation bills to safeguard water equity

October 6, 2021 – JAMA Pediatrics study highlights lead in water danger — 135 Mayors call on Congress to act on the Infrastructure and Reconciliation Bills immediately

September 10, 2021 – Coastal Resilience and Water Equity reports from Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative identify significant funding needs and increased federal investment

August 26, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative concludes highly successful virtual annual meeting

Coastal Damages from Climate Change:

• July 16, 2021 – Illinois communities to spend nearly $608 million over next five years combating coastal damages from climate change
• July 16, 2021 – Michigan communities to spend more than $260 million over next five years combating coastal damages from climate change

• July 16, 2021 – Minnesota communities to spend $115 million over next five years combating coastal damages from climate change

• July 16, 2021 – Ohio communities to spend nearly $80 million over next five years combating coastal damages from climate change
• July 16, 2021 – Ontario communities to spend $276 million over next five years combating coastal damages from climate change
• July 16, 2021 – Wisconsin communities to spend nearly $245 million over next five years combating coastal damages from climate change
• July 20, 2021 – Indiana communities to spend nearly $14 million over next five years combating coastal damages from climate change
• July 20, 2021 – New York communities to spend nearly $101 million over next five years combating coastal damages from climate change
• July 20, 2021 – Pennsylvania communities to spend nearly $56 million over next five years combating coastal damages from climate change
• July 20, 2021 – Quebec communities to spend nearly $56 million over next five years combating coastal damages from climate change

July 8, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence communities to spend nearly $2 billion over next five years combating coastal damages from climate change

 May 24, 2021 – Mayors Commission on Water Equity supports new legislation in Congress providing assistance for water utility bills

April 29, 2021 – Mayors Commission on Water Equity asks Congress to invest $58 billion to create a cross-agency “Lead Safe Communities” fund

April 20, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Supports Budget 2021’s funding for Canada Water Agency and understanding the effects of Climate Change

April 16, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Vice-Chair requests $2.2 Billion for the Canada Water Agency and $7 Billion in shoreline infrastructure funding to address climate change

March 31, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative supports Biden infrastructure plan

March 10, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative applauds passage of Biden COVID relief package

February 25, 2021 – Regional organizations support shared priorities for the Great Lakes

January 19, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative supports Biden COVID relief package and urges quick approval by Congress

January 8, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative applauds agreement to advance Brandon Road project to stop Asian carp

December 15, 2020 – 150 mayors from across America’s heartland urge funding to support COVID-19 response

November 16, 2020 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Convenes Mayors Water Equity Commission

September 23, 2020 – 150 U.S. Mayors Urge Congressional Leaders to Find Compromise on Stimulus Spending to Help Struggling Cities and Towns

September 23, 2020 – Great Lakes organizations urge Congress to include Great Lakes priorities in WRDA reauthorization

September 2, 2020 – Detroit, Zion, and Saint-Anicet join the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Initiative

August 6, 2020 – 200 U.S. Mayors Call for Emergency Fiscal Assistance for Municipal Governments in U.S. Senate CARES Stimulus Plan

July 7, 2020 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Calls for Additional Stimulus Efforts to Include Water Restoration Priorities

June 9, 2020 – Sheboygan, Wisconsin Mayor Mike Vandersteen elected chair of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

May 2020 – Action Plan 2020-2030 to Protect the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence – Leading Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Advocates Call for 10-year, $2.2B Strategy

February 14, 2020 – Pre-Budget Consultations with the Government of Canada

February 11, 2020 – Reaction to presidential budget

June 26, 2019 – Projects Moving Ahead to Reduce Lake Erie Algae, Phosphorus targeted for removal

June 18, 2019 – The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Collaborative Proposes Action Plan 2030 to Protect the Great Lakes

June 7, 2019 – TruGreen Honors Leading GLSLCI Members with First-Ever TruGreen Environment Education Awards

June 6, 2019- Canadian and American Mayors Call for Urgent Action against Asian Carp. Signing of the “Mayor’s Declaration to Stop Asian Carp”

April 19, 2019 – Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Welcomes Waukegan Mayor Cunningham

April 11, 2019 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative and TruGreen Partner To Improve Water Quality, the Environment

March 15, 2019 – Trump Administration 2020 Budget Proposal Jeopardizes Clean Water 

February 22, 2018 – Canadian and US Mayors Call for Immediate Action on Asian Carp

December 7, 2018 – Projects identified to address Lake Erie algae, Thames River Phosphorous Reduction Collaborative
a. Read the Backgrounder
b. Read the Press Release

November 30, 2018 – Mayors and Anishinabek Nation call for stricter rules for water withdrawals from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence
a. Read the backgrounder
b. Read the Press Release

October 26, 2018 – Panel of Expert to Investigate Protection of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River
a. Read the backgrounder
b. Read the Press Release

September 20, 2018 – More funding for new phosphorus technologies to clean up Lake Erie Federal-provincial program boosts innovative Thames River initiative

July 19, 2018: New phosphorus technologies to clean up Lake Erie – Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative

a. Read the backgrounder

June 14, 2018: Canadian and US Mayors reject rhetoric, stand united for shared economic prosperity.

February 23, 2018: Collaborative ramps up phosphorus reduction project – Farmers and Cities team up to help meet 40 per cent target

February 14, 2018: Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Statement on Trump Administration’s Proposed Cuts to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

November 22, 2017: Mayors, Businesses and NGOs in Ottawa to call for increased investment to protect the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence

August 2, 2017: Mayors and Governors Reach Agreement to Improve Water Diversion Application Process

June 27, 2017: New group working with farmers, municipalities to reduce phosphorus in the Thames

June 15, 2017: Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Mayors Mobilize over Great Lakes Restoration and Climate Change

June 2, 2017: Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Mayors Denounce President Trump’s Withdrawal from Paris Agreement on Climate Change

May 23, 2017: Proposed US Federal Budget Cuts Threaten the Great Lakes

March 27, 2017: Cities Initiative Board of Directors Announces New President/CAO

March 16, 2017: Elimination of Great Lakes Funds Shocks Mayors

March 3, 2017: Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Mayors Deeply Concerned about U.S. Budget

December 19, 2016: Success for the Great Lakes: WIIN Act Signed Into Law By Obama

December 9, 2016: Funding Supports Work to Reduce Phosphorus Loss to Waterways

October 27. 2016: Mayors, Business Leaders, NGOs Call for New Vision, Blue Print for future of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Region: Great Lakes Advocates Meet with Key Ministers in Ottawa

June 16, 2016: Mayors Oppose Waukesha Water Diversion (pdf)

June 16, 2016: Backgrounder

February 16th, 2016: Mayors call on June 16, 2016: Backgrounder Premiers, Governors to Defend Integrity of Great Lakes and Compact [pdf]

December 11th, 2015: Mayors call on World Leaders to Reach Ambitious Climate Commitment in Paris [Press Release]

• Backgrounder (December 11, 2015)
• Resolution (December 11, 2015)

October 6th, 2015: Mayors hold first Great Lakes Day at Queen’s Park

October 6th, 2015: Backgrounder

June 17th, 2015: Mayors endorse State and Provincial accord to restore Lake Erie (Annual Meeting) [pdf]

June 10th, 2015: Mayors Call on US and Canada to Protect Drinking Water [pdf]

St. Catharines 2022

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River mayors turn attention to growing the region’s blue economy – Members of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative gathered in Niagara Region, Ontario to hear from government and industry speakers on the power of leveraging the basin’s freshwater resources for economic renewal as part of its annual conference.  Read the press release.

Great Lakes mayors united in support for ambitious Ontario Marine Strategy – Securing the future of Ontario’s blue economy with a dedicated vision for the maritime transport sector should be a priority for the provincial government in its new mandate.  Read the press release.

Virtual 2021

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative concludes highly successful virtual annual meeting – The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative’s two-day virtual meeting concluded today, seeing record attendance from regional Mayors, and impactful presentations from a number of governmental and environmental leaders.  Read more.

Montreal 2017

• January 13, 2017: The Future of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence on the Agenda for Montreal’s 275th Anniversary

Thunder Bay 2014

• Mayors Call for Better Protection from Oil Transportation Spills
• Cities Recognized for Sustainability, Conservation, and Water Management

Marquette 2013

• Mayors Take on Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Challenges
• Annual Meeting Media Backgrounder

Niagara Falls 2011

• Cities Receive Awards for Stormwater Management, Conservation and Sustainability
• New Bi-National Commitment, Investment Urgently Needed to Protect Great Lakes and St. Lawrence

Milwaukee 2010

• Green Cities Chart Sustainable Future for Great Lakes and St. Lawrence
• Cities Initiative Announces Recipient of Wege Sustainability Award
• Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Mayors Request Meeting on Spill Response

• $2 Million Funding Goal Met, Lead Contractor Selected for Study Initiative to Modernize the Chicago Waterway System and Protect the Great Lakes from Asian Carp – January 11th, 2011
• States and cities launch initiative to modernize the Chicago area waterway system and protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp – July 22nd, 2010

• July 28, 2007: Mayors Call for Less Pollution from BP Refinery to Lake Michigan

• June 1, 2010: Provincial and Municipal Great Lakes Partnerships
• June 1, 2010: Ontario and Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Areas of Cooperation
• June 1, 2010: Ontario’s Great Lakes Beaches and Coasts to Benefit from Collaboration
• May 5, 2009: Ontario Mayors’ Five Point Collaborative Action Plan to Protect the Great Lakes
• May 5, 2009: Cities and Province Affirm Commitment to Restoring and Protecting the Great Lakes

• Cities Initiative Launches a Municipal Adaptation and Resiliency Service
• June 17, 2014: Cities, Ontario Tackle Great Lakes Resiliency to Climate Change Together
• June 17, 2014: Letter from Mayor Hobbs to Members regarding Municipal Adaptation and Resiliency Service
• August 2014: “Is Your Municipality Storm Ready?”

• October 29, 2013: Mayors Press for Action on Microplastics

• February 4, 2011: Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Mayors Express Disappointment at Decision to Approve Radioactive Equipment and Waste Shipment
• September 29, 2010: Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Mayors Oppose Nuclear Waste Shipment
• November 23, 2010: Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Mayors Reaffirm Opposition to Radioactive Waste Shipment
• September 13, 2010: Cities Initiative Opposes Radioactive Shipment Along Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River