You’re our inspiration…

We were inspired by the work of the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program, Great Lakes Economic Initiative, and Restoring Prosperity Initiative.

The Great Lakes Economic Initiative, headed by GLUE champion, guru, and friend John Austin, was conceived in acknowledgement that the upper Midwest, popularized as the “Rustbelt,” has been and remains a significant center of economic activity, trade, and knowledge generation, but is making a spotty and imperfect transition from the industrial era which it dominated to success in the new knowledge economy.  The initiative has catalyzed and continues to inform a discussion about the most effective state, multi-state, and national policies for fostering economic growth in the region, among the region’s business, political and opinion leadership.

Read their report The Vital Center to understand what makes this region, well, a region, and to witness some big-picture analysis and thought about policies that will move us forward.