It is good for the environment and for business to support the Great Lakes.

Mason Pryor, my name is Mason and I am writing to inform Erie about 1% for The Great Lakes, a non-profit I co-founded with Cole Larance, my long-time friend and business partner.

1% for Great Lakes is a movement to promote responsible business practices in the Great Lakes region. Our business members will publicly launch on Great Lakes Day (March 3, 2013) and commit to reinvesting at least 1% of their annual gross revenue in protecting natural resources and creating meaningful connections between communities. Businesses are invited to pledge to protect our Great Lakes and to certify their reinvestment in environmental nonprofits as well as internal sustainability improvements throughout the region.

We want to establish a link between economic prosperity and environmental investment, and remove the region’s dependence on variable government funds that can fluctuate among administrations.

Recent regional studies support our belief that giving back the environment is not only a right thing to do but also good business practice. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative proved that every $1 invested in the restoration of the Great Lakes results in an additional $3.35 economic activity, $1.65 tourism, and $1.08 in improvements in residents’ quality of living.

The International Joint Commission also found that 90% of people believe it is important for Great Lakes to be protected. They are willing to pay more to have regulations enforced that better protect Great Lakes. Our board of directors is supported by our board and board of advisers, which are top regional experts from policy, science, and nonprofit sectors.