WATER CENTRIC CITY

In the 21st Century, access to a sustainable supply of clean drinking water and smart management of water resources will be one of the defining challenges not just for Milwaukee, but for cities around the world. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has prioritized the City’s water resources, and through their Water Centric City initiative, Milwaukee will showcase leadership in managing natural water resource assets in a sustainable and resilient way.

Milwaukee is also a leading member of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, a binational coalition of over 110 U.S. and Canadian mayors working to advance the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Mayor Barrett also supports the Great Lakes Compact and endorsed the International Water Association’s Water Wise Cities principles.

In 2009, Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s largest city, was designated a United Nations Global Compact City “Innovating City,” only one of 5 such cities worldwide. The Cities Programme focuses on connecting all stages of government, business and civil society to enhance sustainability, resilience, diversity and adaptation within cities and in the face of complex urban challenges. It was a great honor for the city to receive this designation.

A PRIME EXAMPLE

The Water Council is a model for successful public private partnerships, hosting government representatives, business delegations, students and researchers from around the world, all looking to learn how The Water Council accomplished what it has thus far, and how they can adopt innovative approaches to their respective regions. In 2015, The Water Council and the Global Water Center were featured stops during the Economic Development Administration’s 3rd Annual America’s Competitiveness Exchange that brought nearly 100 economic development professionals from Central and South America to Milwaukee, specifically to learn about the successful public private partnership effort focused on water.

Connecting to solution providers

The Water Council has worked diligently with local, national and international partners to establish connections between companies, organizations and governments that have a specific need, with the solution providers that exist within the vast water technology network. The opening of the Global Water Center in 2013, sparked increased interest in international buyer delegations that were eager to not only tour the cornerstone of the water technology cluster, but set-up strategic B2B meetings.

To date, The Water Council has hosted a broad range of government and business entities from across the world. Since the opening of the Global Water Center, representatives from over 20 countries visit the facility each year to become introduced to solution providers and learn about the mission of The Water Council.

Karen Frost

VP Economic Development

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