What are the major assets of the Great Lakes region?
JA: I think the two major assets that we have in Michigan and the Great Lakes region are, number one, incredible learning and research institutions, and an opportunity to be a center for new technology. This includes clean energy and clean-water technology and business technology development. The second great asset is this really special piece of real estate — the Great Lakes themselves — and the thousands of miles of coastline, the natural features, the outdoors, the opportunities for a very high quality of life and an attractive place for people to choose to live and work. MJP: How can the Great Lakes influence job creation in the region? John C. AustinJA: There are new water technologies, new water conservations and new water treatments. These are going to open tremendous opportunities for the Great Lakes. As we do more of that work, we are going to develop the leadership in what’s coming to be called clean technologies. Freshwater technology is a growing, $500-billion annual glob
