A Marshall Plan for Middle America

As a leader among states transitioning to a clean economy, Washington state can learn lessons and discover ideas from other states. Last week, Clean & Prosperous Institute organized a delegation of 45 key climate stakeholders on a  visit to California. Beginning later this week, we will publish a series of “what we learned” on that Study Mission.  

Meanwhile, we’re paying attention to what’s happening in states like Pennsylvania, where a Marshall Plan for Middle America (MP4MA) is proposed. 

Seventy-five years ago this month, Secretary of State George C. Marshall outlined the principles of what came to be known as the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe in the wake of World War II. Pittsburgh mayor Bill Peduto sees parallels to that time, and proposes to invest in rebuilding his region’s economy for future prosperity. “Like post-war Europe, Middle America faces similar issues of decline and the need and desire to rebuild. Middle American communities have shared needs and challenges in facing crises of aging infrastructure, economic obsolescence, ineffective public policy, and the need for upskilling and reskilling of the workforce.”

The Marshall Plan for Middle America Roadmap is a non-partisan, data-driven research document created through the joint scientific efforts of academic and policy researchers based at the Center for Sustainable Business at the University of Pittsburgh (the alma mater of this newsletter writer). The Center’s associate director, Leslie Marshall, is the lead author.

Enabling sustainable regional economic development through collaboration & partnership across sectors, industries, and communities.

What can Washington learn from this MP4MA Roadmap? We invite you to read about circular economy frameworks, clean energy infrastructure, public-private partnerships, cross-sectoral collaboration, repurposing projects, labor protections, and other ideas, and email your thoughts to us at info@cleanprosperouswa.com.