This month, Cleveland Water Alliance (CWA) headed to Washington, D.C., to engage with national leaders, federal agencies, and economic development stakeholders. From the halls of Congress to national leadership summits, CWA participated in critical conversations regarding federal investment in the Great Lakes and the role of water technology in driving regional growth.

Great Lakes Day & The Great Lakes Commission Semiannual Meeting

Our Director of Communications and Engagement, Samantha Martin, joined regional partners for Great Lakes Day and the Great Lakes Commission’s Semiannual Meeting. These sessions discussed the Great Lakes and the economic power they bring to our region.

Advocacy and Regional Priorities

During her time on Capitol Hill, Samantha met with the offices of Congresswoman Shontel Brown and Congressman Michael Rulli to discuss regional water priorities. The event also featured a wide range of Ohio speakers, including Senator Bernie Moreno, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in U.S. House history and a lifelong advocate for the Great Lakes. In addition to these Ohio leaders, the events featured various other speakers and representatives from across the Great Lakes basin.

Senator Moreno serves as Co-Chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, a bipartisan working group enhancing the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes. He emphasized the urgency of tackling emerging threats and completing acts of restoration, noting that the region must prioritize lead service line (LSL) replacement and HAB mitigation, stating:

“The Great Lakes are a model of what bipartisanship can achieve when we put people over politics.”

A recurring theme throughout the meetings was that workforce development in the water space continues to be a top priority. Building a skilled pipeline of talent is necessary to effectively manage these resources and meet the evolving needs of the water sector.

IEDC Leadership Summit

While Samantha was on Capitol Hill, CWA’s Director of Data & Innovation, Ebie Holst, spoke at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Leadership Summit. CWA was invited to share how specialized innovation corridors can impact broader economic development. 

Innovation Corridors

Ebie participated in a panel focused on how tech clusters drive regional prosperity. The session featured a diverse group of experts, including representatives from an Irish organization focused on market entry and a tech cluster based in North Carolina.

Ebie reinforced CWA’s role in economic development, engaging with leaders from across the country who were interested in how our model supports business growth and cross-sector innovation. The presentation drew significant interest, with many attendees looking to CWA’s experience as an example of how a water-focused ecosystem can successfully bridge the gap between technology and economic impact.

Driving Progress Together

CWA continues to engage in vital conversations surrounding the future of our water resources and the infrastructure that supports them. By linking policy, innovation, and economic development, we help ensure that the Great Lakes region remains at the forefront of water-driven innovation and sustainability.

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