b'36American Journal ofTransportation ajot.com(APPROACHcontinued fromlenges, as well as linked potential. sary to power data centres, innovationon economic development while liais-page 34) Participantswereencouragedhubs, even hydrogen facilities, as welling with existing groups for specific enterprises of all sizes and then advo- to discuss their vision and goals forastheblue-collarstick-to-itivenessexpertise.Theresalreadyagroup cate ways to navigate these issues. the overall Great Lakes region. Theyrequired in terms of labour. dedicatedtoprotectingthewaterof Conferencepanelsfeatureddis- also had the opportunity to share howthe Great Lakes, for example, so its cussions on foreign direct investmenttheyrefaringeconomicallywithinc osT -e ffecTiveness Ands usTAinABiliTy ourintentiontoworkwiththemin trends,advancedmanufacturing,their own community and its uniqueCollegeanduniversityrepre- terms of sustainable economic devel-cleanenergyinnovation,automotiveinvestment appeal. A lot of this hassentatives were invited to share howopment rather than duplicate efforts, andadvancedmobilityindustries,todowithrebrandingtoalignwithinnovation is evolving as well as toHindes says.along with the maritime sectors rolechangingrealities,Abbasempha- relate the workforce training require-in trade, coastal resiliency, and emis- sizes.Forexample,onceknownmentsnecessarytomeetchangingA m ATrix ofi nsTiTuTions Andsions reduction. as the Motor City, Detroit is now ademands,particularlygivenrecento rgAniZATionsHaving a forum to share whatsdiverse innovation and entrepreneur- shifts in immigration policies.To this end, the GLEDC has cre-happeninginthevariousareasofial hub. Thefurtherpotentialofwater- ated a matrix of all the institutions the Great Lakes region amid rapidlybornetransportationspecificallyand organizations within each bor-changingpolicyandglobaltradingthroughnew,refurnishedand/ordering province and state to under-environments is vital, Hindes shares.expanded port/terminal infrastructurestandtheirmissionandpriorities We need to maintain the lines of com-is regarded as a key component toand how the CLEDC might partner munications and leverage the unique- improvingsupplychainresiliencewith them. ness of this organizations binationalwhilecreatingeconomicprosper- Werenotcompetingwith membershiptospawnconversationsity. Economic developers often citeanyone,Abbasemphasizes.For and keep them going within the cur- supply chain resilience as a priority,example, were collaborating with the rent volatile environment. Abbassays.WerelookingattheEconomicDevelopmentCouncilof Theconferencesfirstlocationgreater cost-effectiveness and sustain- Ontario, as well as with the Interna-waschosenbasedontheclosetiesability of businesses relocating in thetional Economic Development Coun-between Detroit and Windsor, as wellGreat Lakes region. cil toward alliance partnerships. astheimportanceofbinationalcol- An example is the Port of God- The GLEDC is also working with laboration on projects such as the newerichexpansioninsouthwesternthe National Institute of Supply Chain GordieHoweInternationalBridgeOntario. The only deepwater port onLeaders, and the North American Strat-slated to open early next year.LakeHuronseasternshore,ithadegyforCompetitiveness(NASCO) Detroit and Windsor have a bondRon Starner, Executive VP, Conway Data fouracresfilledin2018tocreateNetwork involved in the Canada, US thatexemplifiestheimportanceofAnother example is the Rust Beltadditional port land and docks. A newand Mexico trade relationship.cross-borderrelationships,andwhytransitioningfromNorthAmericas$36million(C$50million)harborFocusisbeingplacedoncom-itsimperativeforbothCanadaandmanufacturingheartlandtoaccom- wharfexpansionisplannedthatmunities of various size and recog-theU.S.toalwaysbeatthetablemodateaneweraofopportunities.would include 11 additional acres fornition. Representatives of the Great whendiscussingtheGreatLakes,Whenyouaskpotentialinvestorsmore docks and storage capacity, andLakes Islands Alliance, for instance, Abbassays.TheDetroit-Windsorwhat theyre seeking, they put utilitiespossibly a new building for grain, saltrelatedhowbridgeandin-swing connection is also a prime example of specifically water and electricity and aggregates by 2028. developmentscouldfacilitateaddi-the many border-community relation- at the top of their list, and the GreatCognizantoftheapproximatelytionalcargoshipmentsandtourism ships that were examining in terms ofLakeshaveboth,Hindesempha- 170 other related Great Lakes organi- in its area.economic ties, policy and trade chal- sizes. The region has whats neces- zations, the GLEDC is laser-focused(APPROACHcontinued on page 37)A Leading Ocean Shipping& Logistics CompanyLiberty Global Logistics LLC 516-488-8800LibertyGL.com 1979 Marcus Avenue Suite #200, Lake Success, NY 11042'