We continue to focus on applying innovation and technology to the unique and abundant water resources of the Great Lakes.
The Lake Erie basin has been a test bed for water innovation for decades, quietly anchoring hundreds of water-related companies alongside public utilities and sparking investment of $500 million a year to improve efficiency, quality and lower costs.
We know sustainable water solutions are critical to leverage our freshwater systems to assist water-dependent companies in an evolving economy in which climate change affects the way we plan and do business.
A grant by the Economic Development Administration to the internationally known Cleveland Water Alliance (CWA), one of our partners, is helping to launch key test beds to spur water innovation and develop smart assets. CWA is a non-profit organization that works with researchers, companies and the government to leverage technology to drive economic development and create jobs through sustainable water solutions.
The goal is to make Lake Erie the first Smart Lake in the world.
The concept is similar to Smart Cities, which use technology to provide services and solve city problems in transportation, sustainability and more. With a Smart Lake, advancing technology is applied to improve our understanding, management and use of the Great Lakes.
We have the foundation to do this.
In Cuyahoga County, our water industry is one of the fastest growing segments of the economy, according to a recent report by the Ohio Aerospace Institute. Nearly 1,000 new water cluster jobs (929) were created in Cuyahoga County from 2013-2016, according to the report.
This growth was significantly more than in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, energy and biohealth. This growth has led to well-paying jobs.
We’re home to notable companies innovating in the water sector such as Moen, Oatey, Kinetico and Eaton.
Ohio’s governor has launched the H2Ohio initiative, a comprehensive, data-driven approach to improving water quality. This will help further drive innovation for our freshwater systems.
Let’s connect today to talk about how our sustainable water solutions can benefit your business.