$9 Million Great Lakes Watershed Restoration Grant Program

Jan 22: ArcelorMittal, the world's number one steel company, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced the ArcelorMittal Great Lakes Restoration Program. The new grant program is funded by a $2.1 million donation from the ArcelorMittal USA Foundation that will be matched by a $3 million investment by NFWF and Federal agency partners including: U.S. EPA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The contributions will then be leveraged by grantees to enable a total on-the-ground impact of $9 million throughout the Great Lakes watershed.

According to a release, the ArcelorMittal Great Lakes Restoration Program is an important step towards restoring the ecological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin. The program is designed to address the habitat and ecosystem restoration goals developed through the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC). The Regional Collaboration, created by a Presidential Executive Order, is a wide-ranging, public-private cooperative effort to design and implement a strategy for the restoration, protection, and sustainable use of the Great Lakes. Specifically, ArcelorMittal funds will support wetland protection and restoration across the Great Lakes Region.

Lou Schorsch, President and CEO, ArcelorMittal Flat Carbon Americas said, “A vibrant, sustainable Great Lakes is important to our business and our community. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to lead the effort in improving the fish and wildlife habitat in the Great Lakes. Our USA Foundation is committed to supporting sustainability through the focus areas of education, the environment and support of healthy and safe communities where our employees and customers work and live.” Benjamin Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water at U.S. EPA said, “This seed money grows innovative partnerships to restore and sustain the greatness in the Lakes. The world's largest freshwater ecosystem benefits when governments and the private sector team up to achieve the environmental and economic goals of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration.”

Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation said, “Ever increasing pressure on our fresh water ecosystems underscores the need to protect and restore and Great Lakes, which represent ten percent of all fresh water globally. We are proud to work with ArcelorMittal and our federal, state, and local partners to move Great Lakes restoration forward. ArcelorMittal's commitment sets a high bar for corporate commitment to restoring the ecological integrity of the Great Lakes system.”

Access a release from NFWF (click here). Access more information on the Great Lakes Watershed Restoration Program including applicant eligibility, eligible projects, and submission requirements (click here).