Banking, business, manufacturing, legal, insurance and real estate professionals all have a role to play. So do community industrial and economic development groups, trade associations, environmental and public interest groups, environmental justice representatives, labor, and community health organizations. The Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Initiative acquired signatures from more than 120 Partner organizations in 1992 who were committed to environmental stewardship. Partners have undertaken approximately 55 projects that balance economic growth and environmental protection. The Initiative Office has developed a pledge form asking members of the community to commit by signing a pledge that they will take at least three behavorial actions to help protect the watershed.
Statistics show that once a small commitment is made, a larger commitment follows.
More Efforts Continue From preserving pristine areas to cleaning up areas contaminated with hazardous waste, people around Lake Michigan are working together to care for this great resource. The partnerships that have developed among communities, businesses, and different levels of government have resulted in successful efforts to restore and protect habitats that are vital for the support of healthy and diverse communities of plants, fish, and wildlife. Here is a small sampling of partnership activities in the Lake Michigan region. Through an array of partnership programs that EPA collectively refers to as Partners for the Environment, EPA is demonstrating that voluntary goals and commitments achieve real environmental results in a timely and cost-effective way. In addition to traditional approaches to environmental protection, EPA is building cooperative partnerships with a variety of groups, including small and large businesses, citizen groups, state and local governments, universities , and trade associations.