The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is a binational coalition of 137 U.S. and Canadian mayors and local officials working to advance the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. The Cities Initiative and local officials integrate environmental, economic and social agendas and sustain a resource that represents approximately 20 percent of the world’s surface freshwater supply, provides drinking water for 40 million people, and is the foundation upon which a strong regional economy is based. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative works with mayors and municipal staff to protect and preserve the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region at the local, regional, and basin-wide levels. Headquartered in Chicago, the Cities Initiative also has staff located in Toronto and Montreal. The Cities Initiative is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization in the U.S. and a registered corporation in Canada.