Kaptur Applauds $6.05M Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Support for Local Projects

Today Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, who co-chairs the House Great Lakes Task Force, praised officials at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for awarding $6,058,721 in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding to help undo the harmful effects of erosion and runoff in Lake Erie and its tributaries.

"These projects reflect a growing awareness throughout our region and at all levels of government that we must take Great Lakes stewardship seriously," said Kaptur. "This funding supports critical restoration work that will mitigate and in some cases undo significant damage caused by erosion and runoff in our region. I applaud the U.S. EPA for its continued engagement and foresight in funding these urgently-needed projects and in supporting the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative."

Lake Erie supports an estimated 120,000 jobs in Northern Ohio and generates upwards of $1.7 billion in total tax revenue. More than 3 million Ohio residents depend on Lake Erie for their drinking water. Tourism in the region accounts for approximately $12.9 billion in retail sales and $3.3 billion in employee wages. The Great Lakes fishery is the most valuable freshwater commercial fishery in the world valued at $7 billion.

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