The first Rural Michigan Initiative conference will discuss how water quality impacts in the Great Lakes region.
Alma College is hosting the event at 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 7.
According to the schedule, economy and environment experts will present the water quality challenges and the impact that has on rural communities.
President of the college, Jeff Abernathy said lawmakers and community members will come together to find solutions to these problems.
“It isn't simply identifying the problem, we know we have a problem,” Abernathy said. “The opportunity for us here is to identify ways to solve that problem by acting across all corners of our communities.”
Abernathy said there are many different sources of water pollution across the state that have an impact on rural Michigan.
“We’ve got to address that, come together to find ways to fix problems that have been decades in the making that no one is really stepping up to say, ‘hey for once and for all we’re going to find a way to solve this problem,’” Abernathy said.
He said the goal is to continue this initiative to find additional solutions to challenges in rural Michigan, such as energy.
Scheduled speakers include Collin O’Mara, president and chief executive officer of the National Wildlife Federation, and John Ikerd, visionary economist and author.
The event costs $25, to register click here.
